Are You Past Assuming Jesus?

The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, 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?" (Luke 7:18-19)

Jesus, having healed the Centurion's servant, and having raised from the dead a widow's son at Nain, had come under the notice of John the Baptist, who subsequently sent his own disciples to ask this healer if HE were in fact that One to come or should they be on the look out for him? The question was then and always shall be, "Do we have the right Christ?" Absolutely vital question. Notice then several features in their response which we must emulate:

1. They Entertained a General Idea of Jesus. There must have been something about Jesus that caused John's disciples to ask this of THIS particular traveling rabbi. Many people today seem content to remain here in the general knowledge of Jesus without pursuing him further to see more about him. And as important as such knowledge is, it is not enough in itself.

2. They Were Forced to Face Specifics About Jesus. Jesus did not answer with a simple "Yes." He surely could have. But no, Jesus drove them to examine the evidence. A "Yes" or "No" answer would have only confirmed that this "Rabbi" thought he was "the One." But IS HE REALLY? That's the issue. So Jesus does one better and forces them (as it were) to collect enough empirical evidence that their question would be more than answered and they themselves would have been convinced. So, this would be more than a report from one Rabbi who thought highly of himself. The evidence would demonstrate a certain cohesion between claims and truth, a cohesion that would be quite difficult to overturn.

3. The "Looking" Should Be Commended. They basically said, "Are you Christ, or shall we keep on looking," inferring that they would NOT STOP LOOKING UNTIL THEY FOUND THE MESSIAH. That is commendable. Oh, that more so-called Christians who've grown slack in their faith would hear this and do it! LOOK. "Are you the One about whom we have heard so much. Or is there another Jesus?" Don't think this an unfaithful kind of question. Confusion over the person of Jesus has ever been the bane of the Church. Don't assume anything. Do as John's disciples and ask, always ask the question, "Are you the One, or shall we keep looking?" Many want an aberrant Jesus, one who is only a "good teacher," or "moral instructor," or who "loves everybody and wouldn't send anyone to hell." Are these the Jesus of the New Testament, the One revealed in the Bible? LOOK and see for yourself. But look honestly.

Jesus IS the ONE. You need LOOK for no other. Just make sure you know the real Jesus as he is revealed in Scripture. He will not change like a chameleon to suit each man's desire. He came for but ONE purpose, and that was determined by God the Father before the world was created. Glorious purpose indeed, that all would come to a knowledge of the truth. How does your knowledge of Jesus Christ stack up against this knowledge? Study the Gospels and learn of Christ. He is beautiful in every way!

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