Reflections

Summoning two of his disciples, John sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?”

When the men came to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, to ask, ‘Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?'”

At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind.

And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM.  Luke 7: 19-22

John the Baptist had been arrested by Herod and thrown into prison.  John did what was right and stood up to Herod for his sin.  In return John was arrested and later beheaded.  Jesus never came to rescue John the Baptist.  Why didn’t Jesus come to John’s aid?  John wanted to know and even sent two of his disciples to ask if Jesus really was “The One.”

Many times are expectations are not met by God.  Many times we find ourselves in situations beyond our control and we hope and pray God will deliver us from those situations.  There are times we pray for healing and it does not come.  There are times we pray for God to spare a loved one’s life but they still die.  Is God listening?  Does God care?  Do we have enough faith?  These are questions people ask when God does not meet their expectations.  Often times God does not give us the answer we are looking for.

In John’s case Jesus responded to John’s inquiry that the gospel was being preached, the sick were being healed and the dead were being raised.  Jesus didn’t go to save John but sent him the answer.  Jesus was doing what the Father had sent Him to do.  He was spreading the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth.  Jesus knew John’s plight but the issue Jesus was concerned about was not a temporary one but an eternal one.  Yes Jesus was the expected One and He was doing exactly what God intended Him to do – saving the world.

There are things that happen in life that we don’t always understand.  Sometimes we do not get the answer from God that we seek.  But we should take courage in knowing that He is the one and that the gospel is preached.  I don’t know why Jesus did not rescue John or why John died the way he did.  John paved the way for Jesus and he was able to see Jesus, baptize Him, and know that the Gospel was being preached.

When things do not go the way we expect let us remember that God is still God.  He will never forsake us especially in our time of need.  God is the eternal answer to our temporary situations.  Let us continue to rely on God even when we do not understand everything about God.  We have to continually put our faith in God, even when are expectations are not met.