Luke 7:21-25

Luke 7:21 (KJB)
And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.

Jesus did not answer the questions of John with any theological responses, instead while the two disciples were there, Jesus had begun to heal many with diseases, He healed many who were physically blind and gave them sight, plus He also cast out devils out of many people. These disciples of John were seeing the answer to John’s questions. There was no doubt that Jesus was the Messiah because who else could have such authority over sickness and the kingdom of Satan.

Luke 7:22 (KJB)
Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.

If you notice, Jesus did not give a long theological answer to their question, instead He points them to the visible fruit of His ministry. People were being taught the Kingdom of God and many of the people in the area had experienced physical healing. Jesus knew that John would immediately know that He was the Messiah because who had the authority to heal sickness, to heal the paralytics, to feed the multitudes, to quell the storm on the sea of Galilee, to raise the dead, give divine authority to His disciples, deliver people from devil possession, etc. John would know immediately that only the prophesied Messiah, sent from God, would have the power and authority to accomplish these things.

(Isa 35:6 KJV) Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

(Mat 9:30 KJV) And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.

(Mat 9:6 KJV) But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

(Mat 8:3 KJV) And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

(Mark 7:33-35 KJV) And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; {34} And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. {35} And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.

(Luke 7:15 KJV) And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.

(Mat 9:24-25 KJV) He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. {25} But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.

Only the true Messiah could do these works. For who has the power to raise the dead, or give sight to the blind? Only God Himself has that power and here God the Son has accomplished all of these miracles and mighty works. This was all John had to know and he would be convinced that Jesus was the prophesied One. Then Jesus stated that the poor have the Gospel being preached to them. The poor people were the outcasts of society but the fact that Jesus was preaching to them shows His care for their souls as well.

Luke 7:23 (KJB)
And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

Jesus had specifically pronounced a blessing on those who were not offended by Him. If you recall the disciples of John and the Pharisees had taken offense at Jesus and His disciples since they were not fasting on a specific day. (Mat 9:14 KJV) Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? So Jesus might have been aiming this statement toward them as well as generally to all those who would not be offended by Him and His ministry. Only those who were open to the Gospel would not be offended. Those who were sticklers for keeping the law and all the added rituals and ceremonies would take offense at the ministry of Grace because it did not require the keeping of the law. One who is not offended by the Lord Jesus is normally one who is saved.

Luke 7:24 (KJB)
And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

When the disciples of John had departed from there, Jesus began a discourse concerning John. Apparently, there were many present who heard the questions that John’s disciples had and now Jesus wanted to set the record straight concerning John, since no doubt, there were probably many in attendance that were baptized by John and may have also been confused by these questions. First Jesus asks the people when they heard of John, what did they expect when they saw him in the wilderness? Jesus uses the example of a reed shaken by the wind. This would symbolize a person who would change beliefs with every different teaching they encounter. (Eph 4:14 KJV) That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; John had the specific ministry of introducing the Messiah in fulfillment of Malachi 4:5. (Mal 4:5 KJV) Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: John did not lose faith but desired confirmation.

Luke 7:25 (KJB)
But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts.

Jesus then poses a second question to the crowd. Did they expect to see some government official dressed in fine upscale clothing? Those who dress in the best robes or today in suits, are found in the palace of the kings. John was not a man who represented the king but he was an ambassador of Heaven. (Mat 3:4 KJV) And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. He did not have fine clothes but the clothes which was fit for the desert ministry and now fit for prison. He was not a fickle individual because he spoke boldly about the sin of Herod Antipas. John was in prison, not because he committed a crime, but because of his testimony to truth.

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