Bible notes
Isaiah 35.1-10
Psalm 146.5-10 or
Luke 1.46b-55
James 5.7-10
Matthew 11.2-11
- John was in prison because he had publicly criticised King Herod. He is having some doubts about Jesus and sends his followers to ask some questions. Jesus doesn’t answer directly but tells the followers and John to look at what is happening. The presence of the kingdom of heaven is evident by what Jesus is doing.
- John the Baptist is down and has doubts. Yet Jesus does not rebuke him. Rather, he builds up people’s appreciation of John and affirms him as an important prophet who was predicted by the ancient prophets in their Scriptures.
- The kingdom of heaven is topsy-turvy. For many of us, salary and position mean status and seniority, and society honours people because of where and to whom they were born. Jesus’ kingdom is not like that.
- Truth is not found in palaces with people in robes. Truth is in the wilderness among the ordinary people. Just as Jesus was born not in a palace but in a tiny town of little regard, the good news comes to where people are, not to a special place where people go and find it. Isaiah heralds the arrival of this truth and God’s coming kingdom as the ‘Holy Way’ for God’s people.