Daily Prayer - Stumbling because of Jesus?

Good Monday morning, my friends.

Last week I listened to a podcast sermon on Matthew 11:2-11.  Yesterday, our pastor spoke on the same passage.  When God repeats a message to me, I have learned (am learning?) to pay attention.  This is the passage:

When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?"

Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me."

As John's disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings' palaces. Then what 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:

"'I will send my messenger ahead of you,

    who will prepare your way before you.'

Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

So here is John the Baptist, rotting in Herod's prison, waiting for Jesus to do something to get him out.  He even begins to doubt if Jesus is "the One" and even sends some of his followers to say "Hey Cousin - remember me?  Can I get a little help here?  You are God, right?  Right???"  Jesus does not chide John for his doubts, and instead sends him a wonderful, loving response.  But at the end of that response is a very curious message:  "Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me." Stumble "on account" of Jesus?  Seriously?  Who would do that?  Well, I could (and have).  And so could you.  When Jesus doesn't do anything to end what we see as unjust suffering, or doesn't meet our expectations of what He "should" be, we start to doubt Him.  Just like John did.  But like John we need to alter our perception and expectations of Jesus.  We need to recognize that our character is the ONLY thing that we will take from this life into the next and that building character can be a long painful process.  Just like when we tell our children (or were told by our parents) when there is task at hand they (or we) don't want to do - "It builds character".

Good luck with your construction project.  Just remember to follow the Architect's design ...

Grace and peace be yours in abundance!

Bruce

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, 

because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 

perseverance, character; 

and character, hope. 

And hope does not put us to shame, 

because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, 

who has been given to us.

(Romans 5:3-5)