God is sovereign.
And kind.
And powerful.
And loving.
Despite all of that, He can seem inconsistent when we look at a world crumbling around us.
If God is all these things, why doesn’t He do something about the mess of humanity heading full-throttle on the highway to hell?
Why continue to allow us to wallow in depravity? Why tolerate such blatant immorality and permit truth to be trampled in the streets?
If God is truly sovereign and has the power to override death itself, why doesn’t He send deliverance posthaste?
And then I remember John the Baptist’s inquiry of Jesus: Are You the One, or should I expect someone else?
There is comfort in John’s question. Because if John, whose entire life was devoted to paving the way for the Messiah, could stumble over obstacles of doubt, then I’m in good company.
But Jesus’ indirect response to him doesn’t necessarily quell the fears, at least not when I consider it from John’s perspective (which at this particular moment is one of imprisonment and impending death). Instead of affirming, “Yes, John, of course, I’m the Christ,” Jesus answers with descriptions of His interactions with others. There are no promises of deliverance for Jesus’ childhood friend. No reassurances that all will be well or that a prison break is in the works.
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 7:22-23)
This proclamation ends with an unspoken challenge to Jesus’ faithful forerunner. Blessed is the one who is not offended by Me. Jesus is urging John to continue to believe. To continue to note the hand of God at work among the masses, even though he was suffering himself. Though all seemed dark and doubts were screaming, attempting to drown out all John believed and preached as truth, Jesus encouraged him to hold on to hope.
And He encourages us to do the same, beloved. To take note and take heart.
Jesus is still busy feeding the crowds. He is still intent on the miraculous. But, as author Michele Cushatt states in her book Relentless (referring to this particular interchange between John’s disciples and Jesus) — “Five thousand strangers fed with a prayer. One close friend neglected and dead.”
Blessed is the one who is not offended by Me.
Blessed is the one whose faith is not shaken and ruined by the way Jesus answers his questions.
Blessed is the one who does not stumble over the choices God makes or the things He seemingly ignores.
Jesus was not unaware of John’s plight. Jesus loved John. And yet, Jesus does not go to him in prison. Nor does He deliver John from death.
Instead, He leaves behind the faithful one to feed the many.
. . . Strangers who may or may not have responded with faith.
. . . Greedy hands grasping for miracles to feed their stomachs but not necessarily their souls.
. . . A crowd of individuals who may or may not later stand among the crowd demanding His execution.
Jesus lingers among the masses, whether they acknowledge Him as God or not. His presence remains relentless. He grieves for John, yet moves with limitless compassion for the people who were like sheep without a shepherd.
Make no mistake, God is not mocked.
He is real.
He is moving.
He is wrestling even now against forces in the heavenly realm who are blinding men’s eyes to truth and light.
He is continuing to show up and show Himself across the nations.
But sometimes, His appearance can seem offensive when it seems slow in coming to those devoted to Him. Sometimes His seeming indifference stings when His answer leads to physical suffering or even death.
Although we may not find ourselves imprisoned like John, I daresay there are times when we are prone to wonder about Jesus. If He is truly the Messiah, why does He not DO something to remove the hurt? To change the situation? Why does He not swoop in with a miracle for me?
John never made it out of prison alive, but I hope he was encouraged by the thought that the Gospel was still thriving in his absence. That he found peace in knowing Jesus was on the scene, and all was moving along in God’s kingdom. Regardless that it continued without him.
This life is not the end of our story; it is merely the prologue — a few short lines of introduction to an eternal novel of epic proportions. That’s why things on this side of eternity can seem so disproportionate. So out of balance. Our perspective off-kilter as we live blind to this spiritual universe in which we are encompassed.
Though the world seems to be slipping further and further into darkness, it is actually being prepared for eternal light and life. But it cannot withstand immortality in its decrepit moral state. Much like Adam and Eve were expelled from Eden’s garden, the world is being banished for good, preparing for Divine deliverance.
Though all appears in bonds, the breaking is coming.
Miracles are on the horizon though hearts are still imprisoned, and faithful friends are suffering. And death continues to come to the doorsteps of God’s elect.
Blessed is the one whose faith holds steady. Who, having not seen, believes still.
No matter the answer.
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FOR REFLECTION
Do you ever find yourself questioning God’s response, or lack thereof, to a prayer you have prayed or a situation from which you longed to be delivered?
How do you react when you do not get your way? When God seems more interested in the plight of others than in your current situation?
What steps can you take to strengthen your faith when you are tempted to be offended? How can you broaden your perspective of God’s kingdom in your life and the world today?