“The disciples of John the Baptist reported all these things to him. And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord Jesus, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’ And when the men had come to him, they said, ‘John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. And he answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.'” – Luke 7:18-23 (ESV)
One of the most difficult parts of life is discernment. Unlike God, we do not have perfect knowledge. Unlike God, we cannot see the end from the beginning, let alone determine our life’s course from eternity past. Unlike God, we struggle to understand the wise choice or best path at many points in our life. We live with our poor, unclear, biased, miscalculated, and even hard-headed choices in this world. We live with the uncertainties of life under the sun. Oh, how anxious and doubtful is mankind’s life on earth! However, the clear and certain path to forgiveness and eternal peace with God comes through Jesus Christ. There is no one more certain in whom to hope, trust, and rest than Jesus Christ. Let’s examine why that is the case.
John the Baptist and his own followers suffered from a lack of clarity, too. How so? John’s God-ordained role was to point out God’s Son to Israel and ultimately to the world. John was quite certain that Jesus of Nazareth was, in fact, God’s Son. John was also very clear in calling Jesus “the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world”. John openly said so in John 1:29-34. John the Baptist and his followers were human, however. John was put into prison, and his disciples questioned their next steps and were discouraged. They began to question whether John was right about Jesus being God’s Son. They questioned their decision to hope and trust in Jesus. Their confidence was shaken, they lacked clarity, and they doubted what they had been told by John. Their minds wandered, searching for answers. Hence, their question to Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”
Dear reader, I do not know you personally. I do not know what you believe to be your path in life or lack thereof. I do not know what you view as important in life. I do not know your pain, your worries, or your fears. Perhaps you are doubting what you have always known, what you have been taught, or you have been disappointed by your circumstances and experiences in life. Perhaps your are considering a new path in life. I am not speaking of temporal matters such as employment, romance, finances, and the like. I am speaking of the ultimate pursuit of your life, the very purpose that consumes your soul. I am speaking of what your life should be built upon or what you think your life is, indeed, built upon. Jesus offers the answer to your greatest need: Salvation from your sins and eternal life. Are you wondering if you should seek “another” as John and his disciples wondered?
Notice how Jesus responds to their question. He does not chide them for their lack of faith. He does not command with all of His divine authority what they should do. Jesus directs them to consider His good works among the people. Those miraculous works point us to Jesus’ power and divine authority. Jesus healed the sick, the lame, the blind, the deaf, and the demon-possessed. Jesus raised the dead and gave those dear people back to their grieving family and friends. Jesus encouraged the poor with the good news. Ah, the good news that Christ bears is about Jesus HIMSELF! His summary answer to John’s disciples was this: “Dear friends, you need to look no further. Look to me. You are not mistaken, believe in what I say and in my loving and good works. They speak for me and confirm my claims about myself. Why would you consider looking for another?” Can you see the compassion, the tenderness, and the beckoning love of Jesus Christ to you, dear reader?
My prayer is that you do, in fact, look to Jesus Christ with great faith, love, and certainty and not to another as your life’s highest pursuit and greatest need fulfilled. Jesus Christ’s works during His earthly ministry were mere signs of His divine power and authority. They were not promises of guaranteed, miraculous healing and comfort for this world. Rather, they speak powerfully on His holy behalf as signs for us to take great courage and confidence in Him and not another. Jesus said, “Blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” There is no offense in Jesus Christ except for those who want to run away from God and keep to their own sin and dark ways (every human is sinful and is dark). Christ makes it clear. You will make no mistake in ceasing from your own paths and turning to Him as your Lord and Savior in total certainty and confidence. How can we possibly be offended by Jesus Christ when all that He offers is life, forgiveness, and mercy while it is still the day of salvation? Dear reader, turn to Jesus Christ as your resting place. Stop searching for another, repent of your sins, and rest now and forevermore by faith in Jesus Christ and His work for sinners such as you and me.
May Your Eyes Be Opened To Your Need of Christ,
Eric Conner
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