The messengers from John the Baptist Luke 7:18-35
Imaginative Contemplation
Enter into the scene
Having heard Jesus and seen some of the miracles he performed, some of John’s disciples came back to John. They told him what they had seen and heard. Amazed at their experience, they needed to talk to John whose way of proceeding was very different from that of Jesus, yet in the important teachings there was similarity. John listened attentively to them, questioning them carefully. He recognized in Jesus the Messiah who was to come into the world, the very Person whom John had been preparing for. The time was ripe! ‘He must increase; I must decrease.’
How could John help these men to recognize who this Jesus was? Not by anything he could say. They themselves needed to be convinced. So John sent them back to Jesus with a question: ‘Are you the one John said was going to come, or should we expect someone else?’
When the men arrived, they found a large crowd of very excited people who told them of the many miracles of body and spirit which Jesus was performing. John’s messengers approached Jesus and put their question to him. Jesus answered, ‘Look at the evidence. The Good News is preached to everyone. And happy are those who can see and believe!’
The messengers returned to John, convinced that they had found the Messiah.
Jesus turned to the crowd and spoke about John- ‘ He is not swayed by every new fad, he does not rely on earthly riches, he lives a simple life, he lives what he preaches.’
All the people listened. These were the ones who had obeyed God’s law and been baptised by John. But the leaders of the people were still caught in their unbelief, in their wrong judgement and their adherence to the letter of the Law instead of embracing its spirit. There was no pleasing them.
Jesus went on his way, but the leaders of the people chose another path.
For further reflection
Discuss with Jesus the following points:
· Looking at the facts is one thing; making judgements on those facts is another.
· How do I interpret the actions of others?
· When I have to make decisions such as voting, do I take the time to look at all the facts?
· Am I prepared to accept that others may make decisions that are different from mine?
· Do I allow others the freedom to make their own decisions?
· Do I praise the good works of others?
· When speaking of other people, do I respect them and refrain from unnecessary negative criticism?
Prayer
Lord, open my mind and heart to hear your message in the many ways in which you speak to me in my daily life. Give me ears to hear and a willingness to do your will. Amen.