Reading With the People of God #12 - the Good Lifeنموونە

No One Greater than John the Baptist

In our first reading from 2 Kings 6:1-7, one of the 16 miracles Elisha performs is quite unusual. Due to a lack of space, the company of prophets decided to build a larger home. During the community effort to build, one of the prophets loses an ax head in the Jordan River. This prophet bemoans the accident since “iron was expensive in Bible times, and the student-prophet was very poor. Elisha removes the almost certain debt by making the ax head float. The test clearly presents the event as a miracle rather than as Elisha’s ability to insert a stick into the ax head or to move the iron to shallower water.

In the reading from Matthew 11:1-24, we will see John the Baptist have doubts about Jesus’ Messiahship. Though this story comes out of nowhere (Matt. 14 will explain it more fully), John is in prison. He has heard of the deeds of Jesus. Why would one with such a high view of Jesus now question him? Because he is hanging out in prison! Jesus promised to free the prisoners. Where was the judgment of the wicked John prophesied in Matthew 3:10? Once again, we will see that Jesus doesn’t fit the mold for a political and military leader. Judgment will come later!

Jesus does itemize his deeds, reminding John of the messianic significance of some of them (Isaiah 29:18-19; 35:5-6;61:1). Jesus encourages John to remain faithful no matter what may come.

“Blessed is the one who is not offended by Me.”

This is a key term for Matthew, skandalizo, meaning to take offense, stumble, or cause to sin. Some believers struggle with John’s doubts, but we should welcome open inquiry. A relationship with the living God can handle it!

Think about it: if people doubted Jesus, they would also doubt John the Baptist, so Jesus reassures the legitimacy of John’s prophetic ministry. The forerunner of the Lord was naturally associated with the forerunner of the “day of the Lord,” namely Elijah (see Malachi 3:1 and 4:5). In v. 14, Jesus explicitly says John is Elijah, not actually but in the spirit of Elijah. And no human is greater than John, Jesus said. That’s high praise for His cousin.

* Primer contributed by Brian Mott, Ministering Elder, Cornerstone Community Church of Chowchilla