Luke 7:21-27: a reflection

21In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits; and to many who were blind he gave sight. 22Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John the things which you have seen and heard: that the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 23Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me.” 24When John’s messengers had departed, he began to tell the multitudes about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are gorgeously dressed and live delicately are in kings’ courts. 26But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet. 27This is he of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’

When John the Baptist, imprisoned and perhaps troubled that Jesus was not acting as he expected, sends to ask whether he is the one to come, Jesus points to the signs of his work, the blind seeing, the lame walking, the poor hearing good news, and then adds a gentle beatitude: Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me. It is a word for John, and for all who might be tempted to stumble over Jesus when he does not act as they expected. Blessed, Jesus says, is the one who does not take offense at him.

Notice the gentle warning and blessing: blessed is the one who does not take offense at Christ. John may have expected Jesus to act differently, to bring judgment, to free him from prison; and when Jesus did not act as expected, there was a temptation to stumble, to be offended. But Jesus pronounces blessed the one who does not take offense at him, who trusts him even when he does not act as they expected. To take offense at Christ when he does not meet our expectations is a real danger; blessed is the one who does not.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too can be tempted to take offense at Christ when he does not act as we expected. We can have expectations of what Christ should do, how he should answer our prayers, order our circumstances, act in our lives; and when he does not act as we expected, we can be tempted to stumble, to take offense, to doubt. But Jesus pronounces blessed the one who does not take offense at him. Do not take offense at Christ when he does not act as you expected, when he does not answer as you hoped or order your circumstances as you wished; blessed is the one who does not stumble over him. Trust Christ even when he does not meet your expectations, rather than taking offense at him; for blessed is the one who finds no occasion for stumbling in him, who trusts him even when his ways are not what we expected, as Jesus gently reminded the troubled John.

Lord Jesus, when John the Baptist, imprisoned and perhaps troubled that you were not acting as he expected, sent to ask whether you are the one to come, you pointed to the signs of your work, the blind seeing, the lame walking, the poor hearing good news, and then added a gentle beatitude: blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me. It is a word for John, and for all who might be tempted to stumble over you when you do not act as they expected. Show me the gentle warning and blessing: blessed is the one who does not take offense at you. John may have expected you to act differently, to bring judgment, to free him from prison; and when you did not act as expected, there was a temptation to stumble. But you pronounce blessed the one who does not take offense at you, who trusts you even when you do not act as they expected. Take that to my heart, for I too can be tempted to take offense at you when you do not act as I expected. I can have expectations of what you should do, how you should answer my prayers, order my circumstances; and when you do not act as I expected, I can be tempted to stumble, to doubt. But you pronounce blessed the one who does not take offense at you. Keep me from taking offense at you when you do not act as I expected, when you do not answer as I hoped; blessed is the one who does not stumble over you. Help me trust you even when you do not meet my expectations, Lord, rather than taking offense at you.