Image Courtesy of Hunter Newton
Matthew 11: 3 asks, “Are you the one who was to come?”
On the family tree, John was the crazy cousin whom everyone tolerated at birthdays and holidays. He was such a curiosity that people traveled to the desert just to hear him and watch him. He had been consecrated to the Lord and spent his ministry teaching and offering a baptism of repentance to the people.
As odd as he was, God used him to “make straight paths” (Isaiah 40: 3 NIV 2011) for Jesus. Then word came that he was in prison and his ministry ended and his life would soon be over as well. Doubts battered his soul, and he needed confirmation that Jesus was the Christ. Jesus’ report to John affirmed that He was exactly whom John had been expecting.
His words of healing and preaching were testimony to God’s prophecy and the promise to Isaiah was fulfilled in Him (Isaiah 35: 1-10). Jesus verified His identity through Scripture, so John would know God had kept His promises.
When God makes a promise, nothing stands in the way of its fulfillment. He promised and delivered His Son of Promise and the frailty of the flesh, the cruelty of mankind and even death couldn’t thwart the salvation that comes to us through Him. The Son of God arrived in the manger, to reveal to the world that God kept His word by giving us His Word.
“Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing: O come, let us adore Him . . . ” (O Come, All Ye Faithful, John F. Wade)
Denise Larson Cooper has a passion for Christ and sharing His Word. A wife and mother of two daughters, Denise currently works as a gymnastic coach.
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Godnesia: Keeping God in Mind Each Day http://amzn.to/2GSquOD
Ordinary Days With an Extraordinary Savior – http://amzn.to/2mFGASBLife Is a Metaphor: Recognizing God in the Everyday – http://amzn.to/2De1rU2