TUESDAY - 5TH DECEMBER, 2023
MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO
THEY'RE ASKING, "ARE YOU THE ONE TO COME OR WE SHOULD EXPECT ANOTHER?"
Luke 7:18-19, KJV
"18 And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things.19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?"
One might ask, "why would a fellow in John - as the one who identified and revealed Jesus to all be same who'll send such a message as we read above to Jesus?" If not for offence, he wouldn't stop believing in Jesus and seeing Him from the very light he had seen Him from the beginning. At the beginning, even his disciples left his ministry for Jesus' and he was not offended (John 1:36-37). He revealed Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the whole world. Doing this didn't offend him though he was losing men. He said in John 3:29-30 that, "29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease." Where then could this wrong perception and view of Jesus by John have come from when he himself proved that Jesus is God's sent Messiah to the earth. Even at His baptism when he John would have successfully convinced Jesus to baptize Him, Jesus had refuted and persuaded him on it been done as it fits all righteousness. Jesus has never been wanting before in his sight. The Son of God has never strayed off purpose but has always maintained His course. So, is it lately that Jesus has missed purpose and is no longer Who to expect?
John's view has been changed by imprisonment. He expects deliverance and he didn't see one. This is his revenge. This is his fury and explosion at Jesus. In essence, John was saying, "if you have power, get me out of here. Couldn't you see I'm stuck here". I need help now. He was saying, "if you're the Messiah, save me now!"
However, all these requests came out of huge offence. His own ministry has been stopped and hindered being in jail but Jesus' still continues. Hearing the report of Jesus' great miracles from his disciples, he sent word to Jesus if he were the One to come or they should expect another. He was indeed expecting that Jesus would know where to channel His power - for the saving of the messenger that announced Him.
John became a failure and a disgrace! His reward and feedback didn't delay at all. Jesus having done many miracles at that hour directed the gazes and observation of those he sent to those acts and asked them to observe and go to report all they had seen and heard to John.
Then, Jesus added one more thing, "blessed is he who's not offended at me". How did Jesus know he was in offence? Because John was expecting something to be done yet nothing had happened. People get offended when their expectations are not met or when it tarries and they're disappointed at such delay. Jesus knew he sent that errand because he was stuck and he hoped He would come to his aid. However, offence shouldn't propel us to demean our salvation and even reject it. John demeaned and rejected his own Salvation. He was in essence saying, "if you won't do anything, I might as well look unto another or another place". However, Jesus is not Esther that a Mordecai would tell, "if you look away, enlargement will arise for the Jews from another quarters" (Esther 4:14). This Jesus is the salvation - the final solution and answer and help of all men. Any who's offended at Him might die in his or her sin - never coming out of imprisonment of hell alive like John. Any who rejects His help and seeks to expect another might not find any at all. May I ask, have you found Him as your help and salvation or you're still looking for another one? I assure you, it'll never come.
Let me encourage you not to lose faith, doubt or become offended that your expectations till hitherto have not been met. He sees it all and He hears it all and He'll do it all. Just don't reproach Him and look unto another. Don't be offended at God or any you're expecting money, encouragement, sympathy, companionship etc from but who seems not to be looking in your direction now. Getting offended in them will make you vulnerable - shifting you away from expectation and the place of faith. This way, you'll receive nothing but wither in your offence and doubt. Rather, keep trusting and seeing Jesus as He who is to do it and not another god or goddess. Don't shift your position of faith. It's of great reward before heaven.
PRAYER: Give me a heart release from offence. I purge myself of self justification over others.
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Hosea 1:1-3:5; 1 John 5:1-21; Psalm 124:1-8; Proverbs 29:5-8
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