Matthew 11:1-6 1And it happened when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. 2Now when John heard in prison about the works of the Messiah, he sent through his disciples 3and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or will we wait for another?” 4And answering Jesus said them, “Going announce to John what you hear and see: 5the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up and the poor receive good news. 6And blessed is the one who is not scandalized by me.”
After Jesus had finished the second of five major teachings recorded in Matthew’s Gospel, the scene shifts to John the Baptist. Jesus modeled to his disciples the type of ministry of teaching and preaching they were to have. Word had reached John who had been imprisoned by Herod (the story is later retold in chapter 14). This is the second time John’s disciples came to Jesus with questions (9:14). Matthew records the two episode as bookends to Jesus’ mission for his disciples. Jesus’ ministry was not what they or John was expecting. In this passage, John initiates the question. His question recorded in verse 3 is surprising in the sense that he should have known who Jesus was and what his ministry would be about. Even someone like John had his doubts and questions.
People had their preconceived ideas of what the Messiah should do. Jesus did not come as the political conqueror but as the humble healer. Jesus instructs John’s disciples to report about his healing ministry. What Jesus was doing fulfilled the prophecy found in Isaiah 61:1-2. His miracles were beyond anything anyone had ever seen. No one could do these miracles except Jesus as Immanuel, God with us (1:23). Only the recreative power of the Almighty God could bring sight to the blind, enable the crippled to walk, cleanse away deadly and infectious diseases, cause the deaf to hear the sounds around them, raise the impossible dead, and bring the poor the hope of salvation because their suffering. Jesus’ words and actions should be proof enough of his Messiahship.
Jesus pronounces another beatitude that there is a blessing for all who believe and are not shamed or embarrassed by their faith in him. Being offended (skandalisthē) can result from disappointment, unbelief, anger, or shock and can lead to falling into sin if not dealt with. Was John or his disciples somehow disappointed in Jesus? They were blinded by their presuppositions and expectations and did not see Jesus’ authority on display through his ministry of teaching, preaching, and healing.
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