Lesson 21- Luke 7:16-32 Looking for the Savior

The Disciples of John, 7:18- 23

English Standard Version (Chapter 7)

18 The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, 19 calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 20 And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’ ” 21 In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. 22 And he answered them, “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. 23 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

The report of the miracles, surrounding the centurion and the widow of Nain were the things that were reported to John while he was in prison. John B hand-picked two of his disciples to go to Jesus and ask,”are you the one who was to come or is there another.” You could look at this as the faltering faith of a man in prison or as a fact checker of spiritual matters. Or perhaps a lot of both. We hear reports of things going on and sometimes we read about it, sometimes we send someone to report back, then there are the situations when we go have a look for ourselves! After all, is Jesus just a cousin to John or is He really the Messiah? Other professing Messiahs had come before this time and things ended up very, very badly.

After coffee and donuts (my translation), “in that same hour,” Jesus went on a healing binge and delivered people of diseases, plagues, and evil spirits. Then on top of that, many blind people received their sight! “Bestowed” comes from the root word “charis” that we usually see used in context of our ministry gifts as believers. It is where we get the word charismatic. It means to give generously, to give grace, or forgive. Do you remember when Jesus said to those trying to trick Him and He said, “which is better to say, your sins are forgiven or you are healed.” This word shows He was talking about the same thing. Something wonderful happens in the world of grace when an individual when someone receives the gift of sight or another healing touch. You can/will receive both gifts at the same time, healing and forgiveness.

The “plagues” is an interesting word as it suggests not just extremely sick people, but those who had been flogged, whipped, and beaten up. They had injuries that left them debilitated, but they survived and they desperately need help getting around. It is also a descriptive term that refers back to the plagues of Egypt, many of which resulted in death. Jesus’s action in sending back the message to John is” Is this enough to convince you?”

English Standard Version (Chapter 7)

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. 23 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

Blind, lame, lepers, deaf, dead and the poor are getting the message of the good news of Jesus! How about you? The comments about not being offended are integral to the gospel message because it can have opposite reactions to the hearers. First of all, these are Messianic markers to show who Jesus is! Help for the blind, the lame, lepers, the mute, and poor. Isaiah 35:5, 6

English Standard Version (Chapter 35)

5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6 then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.

For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;

This marks the start of ministry to the forgotten in Israel. Previously they would have been pushed to the side as unclean or unfit for the temple, But Jesus makes the whole person well and new. They are now suitable for worship according to the Old Testament rules. We are “new creations” as the Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth in the New Testament. The offending part that was mentioned a few lines back for Old Testament purposes, is the thing being pushed aside In Jesus. IT is found in Romans 10:

King James Version (Chapter 10)

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved

I Corinthians 11:4.

English Standard Version (Chapter 11)

4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough

If you are fact checking whether or not something is Biblical, then use the Bible as your standard! It will never leave you embarrassed or ashamed when you walk and think in truth. Believing in Jesus erases the doubts and eliminates the confusion. If He said He is going to give you everlasting life, then He surely will do it no matter who or what you are. John was right in my estimation of asking the question, “Are you the one?” People would do well to question a little more in these days and in this time of deceit as to if this thing before me is real.

What’s With John B?

7:24- 30

24 When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is he of whom it is written, “ ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’

28 I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” 29 (When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John, 30 but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Luke 7:24–30.

John B’s disciples went their way but Jesus continued the teaching with an interesting look at His choice servant and cousin. He said, in effect, “ Why did you come out here? Was it because it was a home and garden show. Did you come to see a fashion show? Or, did you travel here to see a famous TV preacher? Jesus told them that in John the Baptist they got more than they bargained for and yet he was no more of a man than they were.” John was a man sent before Jesus to be “in their face” and to prepare the way! John had a construction job like the prophet Jeremiah of tearing down and building up as He prepared the way for the coming Messiah.

Those who had believed and were baptized were comforted and encouraged by what they heard from Jesus. The Pharisees and legals experts rejected the message because they refused to be identified with John or with Jesus Christ. When in fact, they really had nothing to worry about if they would have embraced him with open arms. They would not have been ashamed to do so.