Blog
Third Sunday of Advent: Love
The Unexpected Gift
Isaiah 35:1-10
Matthew 11:2-11
by Audrey Stanton-Smith
“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: 5 the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with a skin disease 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.'”
—Matthew 11:2-6 (NSRVUE)
When I was a teenager, my parents were friends with a couple who had younger children. At Christmas, we delighted in exchanging gifts with them. My sister and I had moved on to the expected gifts of clothes and technology, but Bryce and his little sisters expected nothing less from my parents than the latest toy. Such was the case one Christmas when Bryce opened his gift from my parents and discovered, not a toy, but a scarf and mittens. “Seriously, Dave,” the 8-year-old questioned, “is that it?”
My parents took it well, and my sister and I thought the question was hilarious, but I have no doubt now that Bryce’s parents gifted him with a bit of attitude adjustment after we left.
John the Baptist’s inquiry about Jesus shows us that his expectations weren’t being met. I can’t fault the man the way I can fault a spoiled child for sharing his unfiltered thoughts about the situation. After all, John was in prison and — I can imagine — in his head. He had doubts. He had hyped up the Messiah, one he likely expected to be wildly famous and loudly demand political reform. Instead, he got a quiet teacher and healer who reached out to the marginalized. Can we blame John for wanting confirmation that his preaching, his preparing the way, his imprisonment, weren’t all for nothing?
Jesus gives John’s messengers an answer: “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with a skin disease are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.” Jesus turns the encounter into a teaching moment and an opportunity to give public credit to John the Baptist. And Matthew, in calling Jesus “Christ,” assures us that John has pointed followers to the right person.
Perhaps Jesus wasn’t exactly the gift John the Baptist had expected, but Matthew assures us that Jesus is Christ, the Messiah, the one for whom John the Baptist prepared the way. If we question anything this season, may it be ourselves. Are we meeting God’s expectation of us — to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God?
Prayer
Dear God, may we expect and share the gift of Jesus and his love throughout this Advent season and beyond. Help us to love as Jesus loved. May we reach out to and help the marginalized as Jesus did. And when we have doubt, God, may we turn to the pages of your Word for reassurance.
Audrey Stanton-Smith is the editor of response magazine.
