The online KPPI (Praise and Divine Healing Service) was held again on Thursday, September 17, 2020. The service was live streamed through Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.
The Word of God was delivered by Rev. Jacob B. Sumbayak, taken from Luke 7: 18-23 about Jesus and John the Baptist.
“Are You the Coming One, or Do We Look for Another?”
John the Baptist received news from his disciples about all the things that were performed by Jesus. The things in this question were about how Jesus performed many miracles, such as raising the dead, healing the servant of a Centurion in Capernaum, and also casting out many demons. At that time, John was in prison. John called two of his disciples and told them to ask the Lord Jesus, ““Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” (Luke 7:19, NKJV)
What does the question mean? We know that John himself baptized Jesus. In John 1:29 says that when He saw Jesus coming to him, he said: “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Therefore, John actually already knew who Jesus was, he even said that Jesus was the Lamb of God who took away sins and redeemed the sins of men.
We also know that John the Baptist was indeed a messenger of God who was truly sent to tell God’s people that the Kingdom of God was near and that they must repent. John the Baptist in his preaching of repentance was so powerful that many people thought he was the Messiah. This is recorded in Luke 3: 15-16 (NKJV) “Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
John’s answer was that he was not the Messiah. When the Messiah comes, he is not worthy to untie the strap of His shoes.
Once again, John knew Jesus very well. But why did John ask this question while he was in prison? It may be that John already knew that he had very little time left. Maybe soon he would be beheaded and would never get out of prison. Thus, he wanted to confirm once again and hear from Jesus Himself that He was the Messiah. Therefore, he sent his two disciples to ask Jesus, ““Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
Jesus is the Messiah
What is Jesus’ answer to John’s question? Luke 7:22(NKJV) “Jesus answered said to them, “ Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.”
Jesus answered John the Baptist through the works He had done. Who can make the blind see, make the lame walk, make the lepers clean, make the deaf hear, and who can make the dead rise? No human being could do those things, except the Messiah. Jesus was about to say and confirm John the Baptist’s question, “I am the one you are waiting for.” Jesus is the true Messiah that John the Baptist had been waiting for.
How did Jesus show Himself as the Messiah? Jesus showed that He was the Messiah through His works, namely performing miracles. Only the Messiah, the Son of God, who is able to perform miracles. He is the Lord Himself who came down to earth. That is Jesus’ answer to John the Baptist.
And the good news was preached to the poor. What is the good news? Jesus said that the good news is that there is salvation in His name. The good news will be preached to those who know that they are sinners, those with no hope, no guarantee of salvation, and will not be able to pay for their sins. Those who are unable to redeem themselves, those who do not have the ability to get saved. For people who really put their hope in God, whom Jesus called as the poor, then good news will be preached to them. What is the good news? The good news is that if you believe in the Messiah, your sins will be forgiven, be saved, and will have eternal life.
That’s why Jesus said in Matthew 5: 3 (NKJV), “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The kingdom of heaven is only accepted by the humble, the poor, who know that they will not be able to atone for their sins unless they are redeemed by Jesus Christ. And the Word of God says in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
That is what Jesus said to the two disciples of John. It is He who performs miracles and He is the One who preaches the good news to the poor. And it closes with the words of Jesus to John’s disciples in verse 23, “And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” That means, blessed are those who believe in Jesus. Will you believe in Jesus?
By His Stripes We are Healed
For those of you who are sick and longing to be healed, believe that Jesus is the Messiah, and when you believe, miracles will happen. Isaiah 53: 5 (NKJV) says: “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.”
That is what the Lamb of God did, He was slain in our place. And the Word of God says that by His stripes we are healed. Jesus had stripes because He was scourged tens of times. He suffered great pain. But this Word of God says that because of His stripes we are healed. This healing power is still the same today because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. [YF/EM]