HOST: Michael Whitworth
Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
“While there is much to think about in this short text, I want to focus on the final statement Jesus makes: “Blessed is the one who is not offended by Me.” The word “offended” is from the same root word from which we get the word “stumbling block.” Following Jesus was not, and is not, always easy. It requires commitment and sacrifice. In Jesus’ day, many found a stumbling block in the fact that Jesus did not take the form they were expecting or in the difficulty of His teaching. Many rejected Him from the beginning, while others were disciples for a while, only to turn back and follow Him no more. Not much has changed in today’s world. Many still reject Him for reasons that are not much different from those of His own time. But it also remains true that “Blessed is the one who is not offended by [Him].” May God help us be committed and faithful followers of Christ!
What are some of the reasons people reject Christ today?
Don’t forget to pray and have a great day!”
