Tell John.

Matthew 11:2-6, Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

John was in prison, and would soon be beheaded by an evil ruler. He might be wondering what is going on and wants to know if Jesus is indeed the Christ. Jesus answers from scripture as to who he is, in fulfilling prophecy. His primary mission is to set us free from the power of sin and death, to bear the weight of all of our sin on the cross that we may be made holy and able to stand in purity before a holy God. He offers us an abundant life, not by temporal blessing, but in eternal blessing. John was not set free from prison, but he is set free eternally by Christ as are all who will come to him and receive his mighty grace. Do we know anyone who is convinced of his own self righteousness who takes offense at Jesus and what he has done?

Open the eyes of the spiritually blind, open their ears that they might not take offense but embrace your amazing grace!

ESV Lectionary