Luke 7:18 - 23
John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?”
When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?’”
At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: 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.”
I'm guessing that this passage is included as an Advent reading because of the line, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" Advent is about coming or arrival. So the "one who is to come" is about an arrival, that is, the one adventing among us . . . and John is particularly interested to know if Jesus is this one who was long-expected (the Jewish Messiah), or if someone/something else might be coming to save the people.
"Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?"
Let me offer this question in a contemporary, free translation: "Whose Advent is this? Is it your advent (coming), or does it belong to another?"
In our modern world you can hear all sorts of things this year about what is coming . . . about who or what can save us. We are approaching an election year, after all!
"Elect me. I'll create jobs!"
"I have a plan . . ."
"The more you spend, the better it is for the economy."
Everyone has a solution . . . the President and those who are seeking nomination to run against him . . . agencies and institutions . . . philosophies and idealogies . . . religious groups and social action causes . . . each, in their own way, embody for some people "the one who is to come."
In the Gospels, John seems very disappointed in Jesus, because he did not fit the typical expectations for "the one who is to come."
I wonder how we, too, are let down . . . finding out that Jesus does not share our political outlook . . . or our marriage to capitalism . . . or a work ethic that says, "whatever you have, you've earned" . . . or a nationalism so proud that it turns its back on the little and least.
If we were honest about our expectations, we too might consider walking away from Jesus disappointed. We might be tempted to look for another.
Either that, or take him as he is . . . not as we want him to be.
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