Things that stumble
While there are so many reasons we can come up with for not following after Christ, yet there are some undeniable facts that ponder inside of us that says God is true (Ro3:4). Throughout time many who waited on God to save them have come out empty handed, as it seemed. Because what seems to be a God void situation, his purpose and him working in the background is ever present. Take for instance when Elijah had finished calling from heaven fire to consume the sacrifice giving evidence of God’s trueness, the feeling of loneliness settled in. And, he ran away as if he was the only one serving God, Elijah complained to God about being alone (1Kg19:10). The feeling of loneliness is a feeling that we all go through especially as believers, but it teaches us to seek God’s company even more. What people say at times will make us shy await from really experiencing God the way we should. Jesus had secret disciples that only came out to him at night; like Nicodemus, when no one was around or after he died (Jh3:3). Shame is something that shy’s people from the faith especially in these times and after so many tragedies. Weekly a child dies because of gun violence which brings to question God’s presence; Where is it?
Matthew 11:4-6
4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosyb] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
If we want we can choose from an enormous list of reasons for stumbling to deviate from the faith, but the responses that we have at hand by God out weighs any reason to leave. John sends this question for affirmation to Jesus as to his deity, not because he was in prison and was questioning his faith (Mt11:3). The response to John was not so much as what the disciples heard, but what they saw. The things we experience first hand both via sight and by hearing do not make us stumble. When we hear a life changing message, or a testimony strengthens us. The disciples saw the blind receive their sight like the man who was born blind and Jesus spate on the floor and with mud healed him (Jh9:6). They saw lame men walk like the one near the pool of Bethesda who was there for a long time and could not get to the pool in time after the angel stirred the water (Jh 5:8-9). They saw Jesus heal a man with leprosy like the one who bowed down before him after he came down from the mountain (Mt8:3). They saw when he healed a deaf man like the one he healed when he put his finger in his ear and spate into his mouth (Mk7:33). They saw when Jesus raised a dead man whom they brought to him like the young man who was being taken to his grave, and Jesus stopped the funeral and raised him (Lk7:14). Finally, John’s disciples heard the message of salvation the “John 3:16” message, and affirmed the deity of Jesus. John time to step aside and usher Christ to his ministry came. These things will not make anyone stumble.
4 Of course not! Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true. As the Scriptures say about him, “You will be proved right in what you say,and you will win your case in court.”
Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”
3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again,a] you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
3 “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting,a] or should we keep looking for someone else?”
John 9:6
6 Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes.
John 5:8-9
8 Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!” 9 Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! But this miracle happened on the Sabbath,
Matthew 8:3
3 Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared.
Mark 7:33
33 Jesus led him away from the crowd so they could be alone. He put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then, spitting on his own fingers, he touched the man’s tongue.
Luke 7:14
14 Then he walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. “Young man,” he said, “I tell you, get up.”