The Importance of the Word

We seem to go to the Word of God as a last resort, we’ll have people pray for us, lay hands on us, look for others to put their arms around us to make us feel good. But we won’t study and meditate on the Word to allow it to grow inside of us. The Bible is a package of seeds that needs to be taken out of the package and planted in good soil (our heart). It is that Word that we need to depend on in our lives. It is the Word that can live inside of us to grow us into the likeness of Jesus Christ.

The story in Luke 7:18-28 John the Baptist had already boldly proclaimed on four different occasions that Jesus was the Christ (Luke 3:16-17; John 1:29-36, and 3:26-36). God had also given John a special sign that Jesus was the One who should come (John 1:33). In light of these things, John's question here can only be interpreted as doubt on his part. It's possible that John shared the mistaken idea with most people of his day that the Messiah was going to establish a kingdom on earth and break the dominion of the Romans over the Jews. Whatever the reasons, it is interesting to note that the man who Jesus said was the greatest of all Old Testament people (Mt 11:11) had doubts even after God had borne witness in his heart as to who Jesus was. Also, all of the great things Jesus spoke of John were said after and despite the doubts that John expressed.

We see that Jesus did not answer John's disciples immediately but rather performed many miracles in that same hour, including healing of the blind. Then He told John's disciples to report back to John about the blind seeing, the lame walking, the lepers being cleansed, the deaf hearing, and the dead being raised. Jesus had already healed a leper (Mt 8:2-4) and two lame men (Mt 9:6-7 and John 5:2-15), and He had recently raised the widow's son from the dead at Nain (Lu 7:11-17).

At first glance Jesus' response to John doesn't seem adequate. Jesus later says all kinds of things about John that would seem to be more edifying. Most people would rather have had the most famous person in the nation speak highly of them than to have Him say, "Look at what's happening and you will be blessed if you will believe."

But Jesus was giving John His best. He fulfilled the prophecies of Isa 35, which spoke of the miracles the Messiah would perform. Jesus performed every miracle that Isaiah prophesied He would do and threw in the raising of someone from the dead just to make it clear that this was no fluke. Then He told John to believe.

This was Jesus referring John back to the Word. He was using the very scriptures John had quoted as God's instructions to him. Jesus sent John back to the Word to deal with his discouragement. It was only after John's disciples had left that Jesus began to say the complimentary things that most of us would rather have had.

Those whom God honors the most are the ones who He gives the Word instead of some lesser, emotional response.

Most of us are like John the Baptist, we are looking for accolades, or kudos, and not the Word. Jesus wants to give the best He has to us and that is His Word. Jesus could have sent the messengers back to John the Baptist with accolades towards John, but He sent his Word instead. What we need is God’s Word, it is that preference that God wants to give us. We can look for kudos, or an arm around us, a pat on the back to make us feel good, but what is needed is God’s Word. Depend and act on God’s Word and your life will never be the same. It will lift you out of the rut, overcome obstacles and giants in your life. God’s Word will never fail you.