The early days of television were filled with gameshows, a genre that has now endured several decades of popularity and continues to amuse and entertain viewers to this day. One of the most popular game shows, What’s My Line? involved a panel who would attempt to figure out what occupation a contestant held by asking questions. After a contestant “signed in”, their occupation was revealed to the studio audience, but not the panelists. Questioning would ensue, but only “yes” or “no” answers were allowed. As long as a panelist received the answer “yes” they could continue to question the contestant. But if the answer was “no”, a cash tally was kept in favor of the contestant and questioning would move on to the next panelist. If the panel was unable to properly guess the contestant’s line of work, the answer was revealed to the delight of the audience. The first contestant was a hat check girl at the famous Stork Club, and the most amusing “job” was a man who made bread-boxes.
In Matthew 11 an interesting question is posed of Jesus concerning His “job”. It surprises us because the source is none other than John the Baptist, the man who once proclaimed Jesus was the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world (Jn. 1:29). Life has changed dramatically for the prophet thanks to Herod Antipas. Herod Antipas was one of 7 sons born to Herod the Great. Governing the areas of Galilee and Perea, Herod came under the scrutiny of John due to his illegal marriage with his sister-in-law, Herodias. But as John Barclay noted, “It’s never safe to rebuke an eastern despot.” Herod Antipas had a fortress in Perea that served well as a place for those who opposed him. And while he may have been fine with letting John languish there until he died, his wife Herodias was not. She coerced her daughter Salome to perform a seductive birthday dance which caused Herod Antipas to make a foolish offer to grant any request Salome made. Herodias manipulates the request to involve the execution of John and the prophet comes to a horrible end (Mt. 14:1-12).
For a prophet who was used to living in the wide-open spaces of the Judean wilderness In Perea, chained to a wall within an imposing fortress must have been traumatic. Prisoners were not cared for as they are in modern prison systems. Food, clothing and basic needs were all provided by family or friends. It appears that some of John’s disciples are caring for him and in Mt. 11 we find that John has sent some of them to Jesus to ask a question. “Are You the Coming One (a Messianic title), or should we expect someone else?” Months in prison, reflection on the message of coming judgment John proclaimed during his ministry by the Jordan River and its apparent unfulfillment, as well as no hope for release have played on John’s mind. Was he wrong about Jesus after all? Inquiring minds needed to know.
Surprisingly Jesus does not answer John with a direct “yes” or “no” reply. Matthew notes in his wording that Jesus carefully discerns the thought and circumstances behind the question and replies (apokrinomai) with a combination of quotes from the prophet Isaiah. Jesus does not confirm His messiahship by an authoritative confirmation but instead checks off a list of activities the Messiah would do: He will make the blind see (Is. 29:18; 35:5), make the lame walk (Is. 35:6; 61:1), cleanse lepers (Is. 61:1), make the deaf hear (Is. 29:18; 35:5), raise the dead (implied in Is. 11:1-2), and bring Good News to the poor (Is. 61:1-2). Jesus has been doing all of these throughout the Galilean region and His response to John is a gentle reminder that the Messiah’s first advent has a different nature than His second. This news is what John’s disciples should bring back to him. Jesus finishes His response by encouraging John to “not take offense”, or in some version, “stumble” because Jesus’ ministry does not match up with John’s expectations.
How often do we get a notion of Who Jesus should be or what He should be doing in our lives and expect Him to be exactly like that? He should bring someone into our lives so that we are not alone. He should provide us with the perfect job so that we will never lack security. He should fix a mess we’ve made, heal an infirmity, or restore something we feel is broken. We become disappointed, discouraged and even angry when He doesn’t do what we expect Him to. Are we any different from John the Baptist? We are not. But like John, Jesus always gives us the ability to correct our thinking. Through His Word we can see how He came to us (Jn. 1:14) and what He accomplished through His sacrificial death (Jn. 3:16-17). Jesus gently challenged John to review his thinking and expectations. When we have an incorrect view of Jesus, He asks us to redirect our thinking as well (Jn. 12:27. 32; 1 Tim. 1:15). What are you expecting from Jesus? Is it correct?
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com/, https://www.linked.com/in/annhlefevre/, https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre/
In Matthew 11 an interesting question is posed of Jesus concerning His “job”. It surprises us because the source is none other than John the Baptist, the man who once proclaimed Jesus was the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world (Jn. 1:29). Life has changed dramatically for the prophet thanks to Herod Antipas. Herod Antipas was one of 7 sons born to Herod the Great. Governing the areas of Galilee and Perea, Herod came under the scrutiny of John due to his illegal marriage with his sister-in-law, Herodias. But as John Barclay noted, “It’s never safe to rebuke an eastern despot.” Herod Antipas had a fortress in Perea that served well as a place for those who opposed him. And while he may have been fine with letting John languish there until he died, his wife Herodias was not. She coerced her daughter Salome to perform a seductive birthday dance which caused Herod Antipas to make a foolish offer to grant any request Salome made. Herodias manipulates the request to involve the execution of John and the prophet comes to a horrible end (Mt. 14:1-12).
For a prophet who was used to living in the wide-open spaces of the Judean wilderness In Perea, chained to a wall within an imposing fortress must have been traumatic. Prisoners were not cared for as they are in modern prison systems. Food, clothing and basic needs were all provided by family or friends. It appears that some of John’s disciples are caring for him and in Mt. 11 we find that John has sent some of them to Jesus to ask a question. “Are You the Coming One (a Messianic title), or should we expect someone else?” Months in prison, reflection on the message of coming judgment John proclaimed during his ministry by the Jordan River and its apparent unfulfillment, as well as no hope for release have played on John’s mind. Was he wrong about Jesus after all? Inquiring minds needed to know.
Surprisingly Jesus does not answer John with a direct “yes” or “no” reply. Matthew notes in his wording that Jesus carefully discerns the thought and circumstances behind the question and replies (apokrinomai) with a combination of quotes from the prophet Isaiah. Jesus does not confirm His messiahship by an authoritative confirmation but instead checks off a list of activities the Messiah would do: He will make the blind see (Is. 29:18; 35:5), make the lame walk (Is. 35:6; 61:1), cleanse lepers (Is. 61:1), make the deaf hear (Is. 29:18; 35:5), raise the dead (implied in Is. 11:1-2), and bring Good News to the poor (Is. 61:1-2). Jesus has been doing all of these throughout the Galilean region and His response to John is a gentle reminder that the Messiah’s first advent has a different nature than His second. This news is what John’s disciples should bring back to him. Jesus finishes His response by encouraging John to “not take offense”, or in some version, “stumble” because Jesus’ ministry does not match up with John’s expectations.
How often do we get a notion of Who Jesus should be or what He should be doing in our lives and expect Him to be exactly like that? He should bring someone into our lives so that we are not alone. He should provide us with the perfect job so that we will never lack security. He should fix a mess we’ve made, heal an infirmity, or restore something we feel is broken. We become disappointed, discouraged and even angry when He doesn’t do what we expect Him to. Are we any different from John the Baptist? We are not. But like John, Jesus always gives us the ability to correct our thinking. Through His Word we can see how He came to us (Jn. 1:14) and what He accomplished through His sacrificial death (Jn. 3:16-17). Jesus gently challenged John to review his thinking and expectations. When we have an incorrect view of Jesus, He asks us to redirect our thinking as well (Jn. 12:27. 32; 1 Tim. 1:15). What are you expecting from Jesus? Is it correct?
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com/, https://www.linked.com/in/annhlefevre/, https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre/
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