OCTOBER 24, 2026 – ARE YOU THE ONE, OR SHOULD WE EXPECT ANOTHER?

READ: Luke 7:18-23: … And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.

John the Baptist is now in prison. His followers keep him informed about the developments surrounding Jesus. John cannot reconcile what he hears from them about Jesus with the picture he has of Him. John had to prepare the coming of Jesus by calling people to repentance before it was too late.

In doing so, he warned of the coming judgment (‘Even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees’). At the same time, John pointed to Jesus as the Christ: ‘He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.’ When Jesus came, John was convinced that He was the Christ.

But now he is in prison and hears about Jesus’ preaching and miracles. This raises questions for him: How does what he hears fit with the coming wrath, the cutting down of the dead tree, and the baptism with fire? He hears nothing about judgment. So he sends two disciples with the question: ‘Are You the Coming One, or should we expect another?’ There is doubt and offense in John. Jesus hears this; what is His response? Will He rebuke His servant?

His answer is gentle but also very decisive: John, pay attention now to what your disciples see and hear: they see My miracles and hear My preaching of the Gospel. The blind receive sight, the lame can walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf can hear! These surely are divine miracles. And the poor have the Gospel preached to them!

Is this not the fulfillment of the prophecies of Isaiah in chapters 29, 35, and 61? What Isaiah has said about the Kingdom of God is becoming reality. No better proof that Jesus is the promised Messiah can be given. John will have to be satisfied with this.

Jesus does add a word of admonition as an encouragement. This is stated generally, and also very positively. But at the same time it is decisive for how John must deal with what he hears about Jesus: ‘And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.’

We too will have to accept and believe everything the Scriptures tell us. All of Scripture is necessary for our salvation, even though we do not always understand it.

Can we also take offense?

Sing: Ps. 68:12