PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 11:1-6
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“And the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” (Matthew 11:5)
John wants to know if Jesus is “the one who is to come” (11:2), the hoped for messiah.
The Jewish scriptures promised the good news that a kingdom-restorer would come.
Proof would come in the signs of God’s power and blessing being done (Isaiah 61:1-3).
Jesus, quoting Isaiah, highlights who is the recipient of this good news message.
“The poor” are not just the financially poor, but all the weak and oppressed.
Those who are disadvantaged in the kingdom of this world will finally be helped.
The messiah is not just a miracle worker, nor a problem-solver.
Jesus does not just come to help me with my sickness or money problems.
God sends Jesus to initiate the restoration of God’s creation kingdom.
God through Jesus is making this world “very good” (Genesis 1:31) again.
This message is still meant for “the poor”, all those who are disadvantaged.
Our world favours the strong, rich, healthy and popular… while many are crushed.
But God and Jesus have a heart for those on the bottom, to make things right for them!
As a Jesus follower, do I have a heart for, and am I bringing good news to “the poor”?
PRAYER
Lord, I spend most of my time with the successful and privileged, and very little time with the disadvantaged. Do I truly represent the good news, if I do not proclaim it to the poor like you did?
I wonder what confused John? What tripped him up? He was having doubts about Jesus being the Messiah? Why? Was Jesus not being the Messiah as he would have expected Jesus to be? Did he like others think that Jesus should exercise authority and claim power? Did John really understand what Jesus had to do to be the Messiah that saves us from sin? I’m not surprised that he didn’t understand it – neither did his disciples and most people today don’t either. The Apostle Paul is right in terming it the ‘foolishness of the cross’. But then Jesus pointed John to what was happening and John would have known the prophecy of Isaiah – and then he realizes – yes the Messiah is doing exactly what was prophesied of him so many centuries before! Jesus don’t let me get tripped up and me to share the good news – so that others may find their way to the Messiah!
The ministry of Jesus was the words spoken and deeds done. We are not only know by the words we speaks but also by our actions. The people followed Jesus because He fed them by His miracles and parables. The same is still true today. His followers are know by their love which is shown by words of comfort/peace accompanied by doing. Our knowing = our loving = our doing.
Tell me the story of Jesus,
write on my heart every word;
tell me the story most precious,
sweetest that ever was heard.
Tell how the angels, in chorus,
sang as they welcomed His birth,
“Glory to God in the highest!
Peace and good tidings to earth.”