Read Matthew 11:2-11

Read Matthew 11:2-11

2 When John the Baptist heard in prison about the things that Christ was doing, he sent some of his disciples to him. ³“Tell us,” they asked Jesus, “are you the one John said was going to come, or should we expect someone else?”

4 Jesus answered, “Go back and tell John what you are hearing and seeing: ⁵the blind can see, the lame can walk, those who suffer from dreaded skin diseases are made clean,ⁱ the deaf hear, the dead are brought back to life, and the Good News is preached to the poor. ⁶How happy are those who have no doubts about me!”

7 While John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus spoke about him to the crowds: “When you went out to John in the desert, what did you expect to see? A blade of grass bending in the wind? ⁸What did you go out to see? A man dressed up in fancy clothes? People who dress like that live in palaces! ⁹Tell me, what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes indeed, but you saw much more than a prophet. ¹⁰For John is the one of whom the scripture says: ‘God said, I will send my messenger ahead of you to open the way for you.’ ¹¹I assure you that John the Baptist is greater than anyone who has ever lived. But the one who is least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than John.^[1]

Think

Jesus speaks about what John was wearing.  Not the comfortable robes of royalty, but the simple clothes of a prophet ready for action.  We Christians often expect everything to be finished already – but God is still at work.  We need to be dressed for action too.

Pray

Lord, help me not to expect an easy and relaxing victory.  Help me to work with you as one who prepares your way as we bring your Kingdom.

Amen.

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⁵ 11.5 a: Is 35:5, 6
11.5 b: Is 61:1

ⁱ made clean: See 8:2.

¹⁰ 11.10: Ml 3:1

^[1] American Bible Society. (1992). The Holy Bible: The Good news Translation (2nd ed.). New York: American Bible Society.