Breaking the Word

When John heard in prison of the works of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to him with this question, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?" Jesus said to them in reply, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me." As they were going off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, "What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. Then why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: 'Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.' Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (Mt 11:2-11)

John the Baptist and Jesus bear witness to each other and affirm their own roles through their activities or their way of life. The messiah and his forerunner are not easily recognizable. They are not visible at the first sight. They are not recognizable even for themselves or among themselves.  They have to be verified and discerned. Knowledge of the scriptures and interpretations will not easily reveal. (It is not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven).

John the Baptist is recognized by his life style. His clothing and attire do not match up to a royal living. Yes he is not a man from the city. He is in the desert and the desert is the place for the prophet. Prophet Elijah was found in the desert so also the other prophets (though they were not always there in the desert at least they frequented their visits to the desert). So John the Baptist played the role of the prophet – a man to announce the arrival of the messiah.

Jesus is recognized in his activities. As the Messiah be brings in the works of the Messiah. Jesus himself bears witness to his mission: "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me." Activities of Jesus reveal that kingdom of God has set in. (People are getting healed and they are becoming whole and complete)

Then the disciples asked him, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" He said in reply, "Elijah will indeed come and restore all things; but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased. So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands." Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist. (Mt 17:10-13)

Scriptures and their interpretations are continuously fulfilled. People do not recognize it and even the scribes do not know that the scripture is fulfilled. Scriptures speak about the return of the prophet Elijah and the coming of the Messiah. People who study the scripture so much and interpret it to the times are so much worried about the scripture and their expectation are so much overtaking them they fail to recognize the happenings just around then at the corner.

Both the prophet Elijah and the Messiah are to face suffering. The suffering is from the hands of the people who are waiting for them. Their expectation is different that they consider Elijah and Messiah to be different when they actually come. They fail to see that God’s ways are different from their own imaginations and expectations.

Arrival of Elijah and the Messiah are the signs of the arrival of the kingdom or beginning of the happenings of the end time. People were not able to see this and their ‘thought world’ did not fix this in the happenings. Jesus said that Elijah had come and he had prepared the way for the arrival of the Messiah. The kingdom of God has set its journey on.