Matthew 11:4-6. “Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew 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 to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me.”
Poor John. Imprisoned, alone much of the time; cut off from the amazing ministry of the One Whose way he prepared. He had sent two of his followers to ask Jesus for some reassurance.
Jesus’ response was classic. He simply numbered all the different things He had done that were signs of His power, and were fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. He was fulfilling Isaiah 35:5-6; the dead were raised, the good news of the Kingdom was preached.
At the end of the message, He blessed anyone who was not offended in Him. The word used in the Greek is skandalizo, and is obiously the root word of our scandalize. It meant to entrap, trip up, cause to stumble, or entice into sin or apostasy. What a loving, gentle, kindly administered rebuke and encouragement that was to John. “Don’t despair; don’t be tempted into doubt; I am He. Look at all the signs I’ve given you, confirming the Messianic power of the King. I am He. I AM.”
Have you ever wondered what went through John’s heart and mind when he received this answer from Jesus? Ever wonder how it must have lifted his head and his spirits to get word from Messiah that all was as it should be?
My life verse is Psalm 119:165. “Great peace have they which love Thy law; and nothing shall offend them.”
If I love God’s Word, not only will I have the inner peace everyone craves; I will also be safe from anything that would entice me, cause me to stumble, cause me to doubt my Redeemer. I will not be scandalized!
Linda's Bible Study 