How to Rejoice in the Prophetic Promise of Jesus
Advent 3A | Matthew 11:2-11
Last week, we met John the Baptist in the wilderness, proclaiming repentance. Now we jump forward; John is in prison and Jesus is out proclaiming the Good News. And when word of this work comes to John’s cell, he’s . . . surprised, isn’t he?
So what exactly has Jesus been up to?
Well, mostly preaching and healing. Chapters five through seven are one long sermon, called the Sermon on the Mount. Chapters eight and nine are mostly healing stories and exorcisms involving all kinds of people. And chapter ten has Jesus bringing the Twelve together and naming them apostles. He grants them remarkable authority and power to heal and proclaim the Good News themselves. Then he predicts the coming persecution and division.
What of this confounds John the Baptist, exactly? Makes him skeptical? He is, afterall, the one who spoke of the Messiah’s purifying and winnowing.
If I had to hazard a guess it is the trust in the apostles. And perhaps a preoccupation with healing and restoring and not nearly enough army-building and springing friends from prison.
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