Day 7 Advent Reading: Luke 7: 18-50

I always find it curious that John  the Baptist is asking if Jesus :is the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another" (7:19).

     1.  Wouldn't John have already known the answer?  Certainly his mother Elizabeth seemed to know the answer earlier in Luke when she spent time with Mary, Jesus' mother.
      2.  Maybe John is doubting what he thinks he knows while he is imprisoned and his life is threatened.
       3. maybe Luke attributes this question to John because it is an important question that people are asking.
      4.  maybe John is a little surprised that Jesus is a little less fiery and prophetic (like John), and a little more pastoral and focused on teaching.
      5. Maybe John is giving Jesus an easy question with the hopes that Jesus gives an answer that will convince others who he is.
       6.  why do you think John asked this question of Jesus?

Notice that Jesus' answer is focused on what Jesus is doing, not on some bold declaration that Jesus might speak.

       1.  7:22 offers not only Jesus' proof of who he is, but also a litany of what Messiah i here to do.
       2. That list provides a pretty good checklist for us to see if what we are doing and what the church is doing are in synch with what Christ was doing.

When Jesus forgives the sinful woman, the issue really seems to be about her response to being forgiven (7: 36-50).

      1. The Pharisees want to focus on the question of why Jesus is associating with such a person.
      2. Typically,  readers of the story focus on the woman being forgiven.
      3. Jesus seems concerned with how the woman (and the Pharisees) respond to being forgiven.
      4. Can you point to ways in your life in which you show a gracious response to God's forgiveness of you?