When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?"

    Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me."

    As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then 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, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."

    It’s a Sunday to borrow a slogan from one of those supermarket tabloids: "Inquiring minds want to know." Certainly, John -- the one we call John the Baptist -- wanted to know.

    The outlook for John’s future was bleak. He had already acknowledged that his ministry was about to be overtaken by that of another: "He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30) Moreover John had criticized and offended an extremely powerful and ruthless man, King Herod Antipas, and been put in prison for his trouble. (Luke 3:19-20) Not long afterward, he would be beheaded.

    John had come out of the desert as a prophet announcing the advent of the kingdom of God. He knew that something, and someone, was coming who was far beyond himself. He came to prepare the way of the Messiah; God’s anointed One. He seemed to know when he baptized Jesus in the river Jordan that Jesus was that One. "John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’" (Matthew 3:14)

    But now that death is near John wants to know; really know. "Has my life been genuine and worthwhile? Have I been faithful in preparing the way? Have I really lived to see God’s chosen one?" He seeks a final confirmation: "Are you the One?"

    Jesus answers the prophet out of prophecy; themes from messianic passages from Isaiah. One is a passage Jesus read in a synagogue at the very beginning of his ministry and said he fulfilled: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (Luke 4:18-19) Another is "Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, ‘Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.’ Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy." (Isaiah 35:3-6a)

    Through prophetic images that John, the devout priest’s son, would not have failed to recognize, Jesus let’s John that he really is the One. Things speak for themselves. "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me."

    What would our answer be if someone asked us John’s question this Advent season? "Is Jesus the messiah, God’s anointed One, or should I wait for someone else?" Jesus’ advice on how to answer is still the best. "Go and tell them what you hear and see."

    We are not first-person witnesses to Jesus’ first-century miracles, nor do we have the privilege of having him bring the good news to us in his earthy body. But still, we have our own miracles and we too have heard the good news. We can tell others what we hear and see of Jesus. In fact, there is no more powerful witness to faith than your own story and observations. You can tell someone who is searching for answers how your life has been changed by your encounter with "the One." Perhaps your spirit has been healed. Perhaps your old life left you as good as dead and Jesus brought you to a new life of promise. Perhaps your life grows richer each day as you walk with Jesus. Your story is unique in all the world and it will touch someone the way that nothing else can.

    So go and tell them what you hear and see. There may be no more precious Christmas gift for someone this year. It can be the gift of new life.

Disciple C