“The LORD, The LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, and abounding in love and faithfulness.”
Exodus 34:6
In our Luke reading, John the Baptist asks Jesus an interesting question: “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” This is surprising because John was called to be a forerunner of the Messiah. Was he shocked that the Messiah had come in compassion rather than with “winnowing fork” (v. 17) and acts of judgment?
John should not have been surprised. When God revealed Himself to Moses, He made known that He is compassionate. Think of the feeling you get when you hold a newborn baby in your arms. Your heart goes out to the little one; you want to make sure she is comfortable, fed, and protected. When God came in human flesh, He had this kind of compassion for those impacted by disability, healing them and thereby accepting them into temple worship. God welcomes those with disabilities into His family.
This is good news for us because we are all spiritually disabled, unable to make ourselves right with God. In compassion, Jesus came to earth to live and die in our place so that we might live with Him forever.
John should not have been surprised. When God revealed Himself to Moses, He made known that He is compassionate. Think of the feeling you get when you hold a newborn baby in your arms. Your heart goes out to the little one; you want to make sure she is comfortable, fed, and protected. When God came in human flesh, He had this kind of compassion for those impacted by disability, healing them and thereby accepting them into temple worship. God welcomes those with disabilities into His family.
This is good news for us because we are all spiritually disabled, unable to make ourselves right with God. In compassion, Jesus came to earth to live and die in our place so that we might live with Him forever.
Scripture Focus
Luke 7:18-23
Insight
“Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father,/ …Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;/ as thou hast been, thou forever wilt be.”(Thomas O. Chisholm, 1923)
Bible In A Year
- Esther 1-2
- Psalm 38
- Luke 1
