Offended by Jesus?

Jesus replied to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news, and blessed is the one who isn’t offended by me.” (Matthew 11:4-6)

I’m sure we’ve all experienced times of disappointment when Jesus didn’t do as we had hoped.

John certainly felt that way. He had expected Jesus to overthrow the Roman empire and establish God’s kingdom. But instead, he was stuck in a prison and would eventually be executed by Herod.

No, Jesus doesn’t always do for us what we hope.

But Jesus says to us the same thing he said to John.

“I am the one who is your hope. You may not be able to see it, but I am working. And ultimately, you will not be disappointed for putting your hope in me.”

So as we head into 2023, let’s keep that in view, and remember the words of the writer of Hebrews.

So don’t throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you need endurance, so that after you have done God’s will, you may receive what was promised.

For yet in a very little while,
the Coming One will come and not delay.

But my righteous one will live by faith;
and if he draws back,
I have no pleasure in him.

But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and are saved. (Hebrews 10:35-39)