Is this what you were expecting?
Matthew 11:2-6&11(MSG) John, meanwhile, had been locked up in prison. When he got wind of what Jesus was doing, he sent his own disciples to ask, “Are you the One we’ve been expecting, or are we still waiting?” Jesus told them, “Go back and tell John what’s going on: The blind see, The lame walk, Lepers are cleansed, The deaf hear, The dead are raised, The wretched of the earth learn that God is on their side. “Is this what you were expecting? Then count yourselves most blessed!” . . . . . 11 “Let me tell you what’s going on here: No one in history surpasses John the Baptizer; but in the kingdom he prepared you for, the lowliest person is ahead of him.
John the Baptist has been in prison for as long as a year. He had declared that Herod’s choice to divorce his wife and marry his brother’s wife was not lawful. Herod had him arrested and imprisoned.
The question posed here, suggests that John is expecting the arrival of the Messiah. He heard about what Jesus had been doing, and he sent his disciples to Jesus with a question, ‘Is this what we were expecting?’
Luke 7:20(MSG) says: The men showed up before Jesus and said, “John the Baptizer sent us to ask you, ‘Are you the One we’ve been expecting, or are we still waiting?’”
John is waiting with expectation for the revelation of Jesus. Jesus amazes with His response in Luke 7:21-23(MSG) In the next two or three hours Jesus healed many from diseases, distress, and evil spirits. To many of the blind he gave the gift of sight. Then he gave his answer: “Go back and tell John what you have just seen and heard: The blind see, The lame walk, Lepers are cleansed, The deaf hear, The dead are raised, The wretched of the earth have God’s salvation hospitality extended to them. “Is this what you were expecting? Then count yourselves fortunate!”
The Bible says that in the next two or three hours, Jesus healed many diseases, distress and evil spirits. In the presence of John’s disciples, He meets the expectation of John. He then answers, “Is this what you were expecting?” Thus, go and give a report to John, I have met his expectation. The Messiah, the Son of God, the miracle worker, the promise keeper and the light in the darkness has arrived?
When I read this passage, Is this what you were expecting stood out. The question to each one of us is, what are you expecting? Remember, John was imprisoned. Even during this difficult time, he has not lost focus. He was full of expectation.
What are you expecting today?
The Bible says that creation waits with longing for the revealing of the sons of God; what are you expecting? Romans 8:19(ESV) For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.
Proverbs 13:12(ESV) Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
Proverbs 10:28(ESV) The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.
Proverbs 23:18(ESV) Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
Psalm 62:5(KJV) My soul, wait thou only upon God; For my expectation is from him.
I conclude with Ephesians 3:20-21(MSG) God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. Glory to God in the church! Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus! Glory down all the generations! Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!