Are You Offended by Jesus?

Thistlebend Quiet eMoment

by Laurie Aker

Focus Scripture: Luke 7:18-23 ESV

18 The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John,
19 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?”
20 And when the men had come to him, they said,
“John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying,
‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?'”
21 In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues
and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight.
22 And he answered them, “Go and tell John
what you have seen and heard:
the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed,
and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up,
the poor have good news preached to them.
23 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
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Jesus’ words in verse 23 are a gentle
encouragement to John to hold on.

Even though John may have struggled to reconcile
what Jesus was presently doing with what he thought
the Messiah would immediately do,
when we look at John the Baptist’s life over all,
we can certainly say that he was not offended by Jesus.
He was not ashamed of Him.
He wanted more of Jesus and less of himself.

John 3:29-30
“You yourselves bear me witness, that I said,
‘I am not the Christ, but  I have been sent before him.’ 
The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. 
The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, 
rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice.
Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 
He must increase, but I must decrease.”

O that this would be completely true of us!
Absolutely true.

TAKING GOD’S WORD TO HEART

O Lord, that we would want less of ourselves
and more of you.

O Lord, that we would be willing to die
that you might live through us.
O Lord, that we would not be offended by Jesus
or by being associated with Him.

In His life.
In His death.
In His rejection.
In His resurrection.

Romans 5:16-17
16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit
that we are children of God,
17 and if children, then heirs–
heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,
provided we suffer with him
in order that we may also be glorified with him.

O Lord, that we would be faithful
to follow in your footsteps!

May we walk the path you laid before us.
The road to Calvary.
The path of death to self.

MEDITATE or MEMORIZE

Write out the following passage from Luke 7 and recite it 3 times.
Take it with you throughout the day.

22 And he answered them, “Go and tell John
what you have seen and heard:  
the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed,  
and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, 
the poor have good news preached to them.  
23 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

PRAYER

O Lord, forgive us when we live for
ourselves and not for you.

In His hands for His glory,

Laurie
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