A Pivotal Question…A pivotal Answer

A Pivotal Question…A pivotal Answer

"Art you He that should come, or look we for another?" (Matthew 11:3).

The eleventh chapter of Matthew is one of the most pivotal passages in the Bible.  John the Baptist, from his prison, sent two of his disciples to find Jesus and ask Him a question.  They came with John’s message, "Art Thou He that should come, or look we for another?" (Matthew 11:3).  There is no avoiding the implications of this question.  If we paraphrase the thought, it will read: "We have been expecting that Thou wouldst do all that we prophesied of Thee.  We said that the Messiah Who was to follow us would come in judgment.  His axe would be laid to the root of the trees that did not produce good fruit.  His winds of judgment would sweep away the chaff and leave the threshing floor with its cleansed wheat.  But now we find ourselves in prison with a sword hanging over us.  We had expected that Thou wouldst break forth in Thy judgment work, long before this.  Have we misunderstood the Scriptures?  Art Thou He that should come, or look we for another who will complete the work that is prophesied concerning the Messiah and which we had expected of Thee long ere this?"

Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the Gospel preached unto them" (Matthew 11:4-5).  There is nothing new in that answer.  Indeed, Jesus said to these disciples, "Go and show John again."  Tell Him once more.  In other words, John already knew that which Jesus was answering through the two disciples.  But there was one more phrase in our Lord’s answer.  Jesus added this most significant sentence, "And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me" (Matthew 11:6).  This verse is a spiritual touchstone for the estimate of real knowledge of the Bible.

Dr. Barnhouse gives Christ’s answer to anyone who is seeking to know Him but is confused.  Is there another hope?  No, Jesus alone is the hope for mankind.  He is the Lord redeemer who will bring peace with God and peace within to all who believe on His name.

Further Reading : Matthew 11:1-14