Yes You are the One

Every one of us experience watershed events in our lives. These are times when our way of thinking, our perspective on life and the path that we follow is dramatically altered. For many Christians one of these events was when they began to live in their baptismal covenant, or as some would say, “Received Jesus as their Lord and Savior.” Some have near death experiences that drastically change their lives. A watershed event for others may be when God doesn’t do what they want God to do and they give up on their faith.In the passage of Scripture before us today, we see John the Baptist at a watershed point in his life. When we read this story of John and Jesus, we are able to learn a great deal about living in a relationship with God and what the kingdom of God is like.CRISISIf anyone should have known that Jesus was the Messiah, it should have been John. Luke has John recognizing Jesus and jumping in his mother’s womb, when they first met (). John baptized Jesus and witnessed the Holy Spirit descend upon him. Still, John sends his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?”John has been imprisoned by King Herod. Sitting in a cold, dank cell he begins to wonder. Also, Jesus wasn’t quite the Messiah that John thought he would be. John had preached a Messiah that would bring God’s judgment, would overthrow governments and establish God’s kingdom. Jesus was anything but that. John started to think that he had been mistaken. The fact that he was looking for God to act in a specific way blinded him to what God was actually doing.There have been times when people have seen suffering in the world and have wondered why God hasn’t interceded and ended the suffering. What they perceive as God’s lack of action has caused them to turn away from the faith. For some of us, God hasn’t done what we have wanted God to do. It might have been healing from a sickness, getting a promotion, or any number of things. The fact that God didn’t act in the way we wanted God to act has had us question our faith.

What was said concerning him he did

Certainly we have experienced this at Desert Streams. We were very sure that God was moving to enable us to build a worship and community center. When that didn’t happen, we have questioned what God is doing and perhaps wondered if God is doing anything in our world. Our waiting for our land to sell as increased our questioning. Our downward trend in attendance, I think, is in part due to this struggle.LOOKING FOR POWER.

John was looking for a powerful Messiah. John wanted the kingdom of God to move in powerful ways.The people who came out to hear John wanted to see power. They were people who usually looked to people in soft robes—people who were in authority and exercised power—to be their problem solvers.We have been seduced by power. We have bought the argument that power will bring peace, even though increasing uses of power have not brought greater peace. Often parents have relied on power and tough love to control their children. Often then discover that they have little control and tough love is not the path toward building a stronger relationship.

What was said concerning him he did Jesus rejects power. Instead of power Jesus loves. The kingdom of God is not a kingdom of power it is a kingdom of love. Lives are changed and worlds are transformed by love.

EVIDENCE OF THE KINGDOM

What John didn’t see was that the kingdom of God was being established. Love was exerting its transforming power. Lives were being made whole.Jesus asks John’s disciples to look around and see what was happening. The blind received their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised and the poor have good news brought to them.God was moving in surprising ways. God was moving in ways that no one expected. Lives were being made whole and changed. The kingdom of God was being experienced on an individual level.

God is surprising us. Land is being sold and new home possibilities are being opened up. God is moving in relationships. Love is healing people and making them whole. The kingdom of God is being established.

How often have we looked at scripture concerning Jesus. Now not many would doubt that Jesus is who Jesus is. We who are saved have placed our confidence in him being the Son of God. This is the basis of our salvation.

For the roman writer said if we confess with mouths that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raise his son from the dead we shall be saved.

 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”

Yet the truth of the matter is that sometimes we find ourselves in situations and circumstances and we prayed about it and we seem to get no answer. Then doubt sets in.

The news concerning the great miracle at Nain had spread far and wide, also reaching the prison where the Baptist was being kept. According to , John the Baptist had been taken into custody by King Herod Antipas. He had been locked up in the gloomy fortress of Machaerus. I am sure this was a very uncomfortable moment in his ministry. He use to a life of freedom preaching the coming of the Lord and repentence of sin. Now he is locked up to only hear of the ministry of Jesus.

According to , —see explanation of these verses—John the Baptist had been taken into custody by King Herod Antipas. He had been locked up in the gloomy fortress of Machaerus

The Disciples’ Inquiry2.

The Disciples’ Investigation3.

Baker New Testament Commentary: Luke A. John’s Doubt

The news concerning the great miracle at Nain had spread far and wide, also reaching the prison where the Baptist was being kept. Result: the latter’s question.

According to Luke 3:19, 20—see explanation of these verses—John the Baptist had been taken into custody by King Herod Antipas. He had been locked up in the gloomy fortress of Machaerus

The Disciples’ IntelligenceRemarks.

In our first point, we will discuss John’s disciples' inquiry into the real person of Jesus. They were too ask Jesus: “Art thou he that should come? Or look we for another?” .

John had concluded his preparatory preaching regarding the kingdom of God. He was desirous to know if this man Jesus was the Messiah that would come into the world.

The one whom Isaiah had written: “Saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepared ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God,” .

In our second point, we will describe how John’s disciples conducted their investigation of Jesus by witnessing his miracles and hearing his preaching. After arriving at the location where the Master was ministering, they found Him, approached Him and advised Jesus that: “John the Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou He that should come? Or look we for another? And in that same hour He (Jesus) cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight,” .

In our last point, we will address the disciples’ intelligence report to John. Jesus told John’s disciples to go report to him what they had seen and heard. After John’s disciples had observed Jesus’ work of ministry and healing: “Said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached,” .

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.

In these events may be seen the fulfilment of ., and the person who recognizes the fulfilment will know that Jesus is the coming One