Today you should read: Luke 7:18-39
Has there ever been a time in your life when you have looked at Jesus or just expected something different from Him than what was shown? I have done that. I have expected and wanted Jesus to be something different than He is. They are not my proudest moments, but they happened. There were many factors that went into those feelings. In all of those times I was not in a great position. Some of them I would say I was close to God but my circumstances were bad around me. In those times I wanted more from God and I wanted Him to provide how I thought was best. Other times I was far from God which led to a complete misunderstanding of the way Jesus should be in my life.
In this passage we get a glimpse of John the Baptist feeling like Jesus isn’t what he expected. During this time John was in prison and was not looking at a lot of time left on this earth. This situation would cause most anyone to have some off thoughts or expectations. The bottom line is that John thought that Jesus would come in and clean the place up, but Jesus was serving and connecting with the “unclean.”
The beauty of this whole thing is that when Jesus is questioned He doesn’t give an answer. He instead heals and raises the dead and meets needs. He shows himself to be the Messiah. If we are not careful we can let circumstances or preconceived thoughts about the world and even God dictate our expectations. The reality is that God does not have to explain himself to us. And yet He shows us who He is and how He is present through His creation, through His Word, and through the intimate relationship we can have with Him. God has a purpose that is far greater than we can understand. Will you trust Him? Will you see Him for who He is and not who you want Him to be or who you think He should be? Who He is so much better.
By: Dakota Gragg — Student Ministry Associate
JumpstartCPC.com 
This passage of scripture is so rich. John the Baptist (JTB) is suffering in terrible conditions in prison for serving Jesus & speaking truth and Satan is working overtime on his mind causing him to question if Jesus is really the Messiah. The response Jesus gives is amazing when he says that among those born of women none is greater than JTB. I’m encouraged by the fact that even a super hero of the faith in his humanity had doubts. We must remember that when we are suffering it’s not because Jesus has turned His back on us or that He doesn’t care. The more appropriate response would be to remain faithful to our mission and wonder who might be around us that’s watching how we respond to difficult times. Do we praise Jesus in the storm or only when times are good? My prayer for myself and all followers of Jesus is that we remain faithful even unto death, like JTB.
It really struck me today how God’s grace works. Here John the Baptist is – filled with the Spirit from his mother’s womb, fulfilled his purpose, announced the ministry of Jesus and yet he had confusion and doubts because of his circumstances. Jesus answer to John focused on the love of God being poured out.
I question the character of the Lord because of circumstances that spin out of control. But this passage reminds me that He doesn’t leave us nor forsake us. He IS faithful even when we are faithless. AMAZING! He knows our frame – that we are dust. A bruised reed He will not break.
He is good!
YES! Love this passage today. To echo mike and kaitlyn, how could John doubt after all he had seen and testified to? Because he was about to have his head chopped off and Jesus wasn’t doing what he thought he would do. I like how the NIV words it when Jesus says, “blessed is the man that does not stumble over me”. Sometimes I stumble over Jesus’ plan because it does not line up with the way I thought things should be.