Jesus, are you the one?

                           Photo by Christian Buehner on Unsplash

 

The disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus with this question from their imprisoned Rabbi.

“Are you the one we have been looking for, or are we still waiting?”

 

It’s an honest question. John had preached with fire and passion that the coming one would set things right, and yet he now sits in prison waiting to see what he preached about come to pass.

 

I think Christ-followers today—especially those, like me, who preached with passion the return of the Lord—are much like imprisoned John.

 

John told his disciples he must move to the background while the Messiah took center stage.

 

John baptized Jesus in the river Jordon. He witnessed God the Holy Spirit come on Jesus as a dove landing on his shoulder.

 

John testified about what he saw.

 

Shortly after this event, John was hauled into prison for speaking truthfully the word of God—Herod committed adultery when he married his brother’s wife.

 

In John’s mind, his imprisonment confirmed his departure for the Messiah’s arrival.

 

However, what he heard about Jesus while in prison did not align with what John thought should be happening.

 

For about two years, John waited, hoping to hear that Jesus was restoring Israel to her former glory.

 

Finally, his hope diminished, and he sent some of his disciples the fateful question, “Are you the one we have been looking for, or are we still waiting?”

For years—decades—Christ-followers have patiently waited for Jesus’ return. Like John, hope tends to run thin. However, unlike John, we cannot send someone to ask Jesus, “Are you the one we have been looking for, or are we still waiting?”

 

It is still a fair question.

 

Jesus answers John’s disciples.

 

 

The men showed up before Jesus and said, “John the Baptizer sent us to ask you, ‘Are you the One we’ve been expecting, or are we still waiting?'”

In the next two or three hours Jesus healed many from diseases, distress, and evil spirits. To many of the blind he gave the gift of sight.

Then he gave his answer: “Go back and tell John what you have just seen and heard: The blind see, The lame walk, Lepers are cleansed, The deaf hear, The dead are raised, The wretched of the earth have God’s salvation hospitality extended to them.

“Is this what you were expecting? Then count yourselves fortunate!”

Luke 7:20-23 The Message

 

Jesus answers John’s honest question by demonstrating the word of God.

 

As a prophet, John studied the Old Testament scriptures. He knew the words of the prophet Isaiah.

 

At that time the deaf will hear word-for-word what’s been written. After a lifetime in the dark, the blind will see.

The castoffs of society will be laughing and dancing in God, the down-and-outs shouting praise to The Holy of Israel.

Isaiah 29:18-19 The Message

 

Jesus told John’s disciples to tell him that the word of God is coming alive right before your eyes.

 

The message is the same today.

 

The question may not have changed, “Are you the one we have been looking for, or are we still waiting?”

 

And neither has the answer.

 

The only difference is that it has shifted from the Old Testament to the words of the New Testament.

 

 

“In the Last Days,” God says, “I will pour out my Spirit on every kind of people: Your sons will prophesy, also your daughters; Your young men will see visions, your old men dream dreams.

When the time comes, I’ll pour out my Spirit On those who serve me, men and women both, and they’ll prophesy.

I’ll set wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth below, Blood and fire and billowing smoke,

the sun turning black and the moon blood-red, Before the Day of the Lord arrives, the Day tremendous and marvelous;

And whoever calls out for help to me, God, will be saved.”

Acts 2:17-21 The Message

 

In other words, supernatural (not by natural means) things will take place from God’s spirit, overwhelming humanity to unexplained and extraordinary events in nature.

 

Is it happening?

 

Ashbury, KY

Spontaneous worship erupts, bringing tens of thousands of people to a small college town in Kentucky.

Auburn, AL

Hundreds of people spontaneously water baptized by a college football coach in Auburn, Alabama.

 

Solar activity was on the rise this year, which meant an abundance of amazing solar storm-related stories

12/22

“NOAA Warning”: Strong solar storm event will cause auroras and disruptions today

12/23

 

 

The sun’s poles are about to flip. It’s awesome — and slightly terrifying.

1/24

 

An atmospheric river will drench California, with some parts still recovering from last year’s storms

2/24

 

 

Are these few (out of many) stories just a coincidence? Or are they signs of the last days?

 

These are questions you must answer for yourself.

 

 

Jesus told his disciples,

 

“They are going to throw you to the wolves and kill you, everyone hating you because you carry my name.

And then, going from bad to worse, it will be dog-eat-dog, everyone at each other’s throat, everyone hating each other.

“In the confusion, lying preachers will come forward and deceive a lot of people.

For many others, the overwhelming spread of evil will do them in – nothing left of their love but a mound of ashes.

“Staying with it – that’s what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won’t be sorry, and you’ll be saved.

Matthew 28:9-13 The Message

 

Does any of this sound like current headlines?

 

Jesus continues,

 

Don’t take this lightly. I’m not just saying this for some future generation, but for all of you. This age continues until all these things take place.

Sky and earth will wear out; my words won’t wear out.

“But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven’s angels, not even the Son. Only the Father knows.

Matthew 28:34-36 The Message

 

God the Father has set a day and a time when the last day will be. Following that day, Jesus, God the Son, will step out of eternity back into earth.

 

So, the answer to the question, “Are you the one we have been looking for, or are we still waiting?”

 

It is a resounding yes—he is the one, and we are still waiting.

 

A close personal relationship with the Godhead provides you a living hope. It is a living anticipation full of expectation of something good happening.

 

 

A close personal relationship with the Godhead is a journey. I invite you to follow along. As I learn, I will pass it along so you, too, can learn. I hope that as you learn, you can pass it along so that I (and others) might learn.