The Day Of Mercy, The Day Of Healing - Matthew 11:4-6

And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” - Matthew 11:4-6

    As John the Baptist lay in Herod’s prison, he reflected on what he had witnessed of Jesus. Was He the promised Messiah? John’s uncertainty hinged upon Scripture’s promise that the coming Messiah would bring judgment to the world. But so far, he had not seen Jesus pronounce judgment upon anyone. So, he wondered, could we be awaiting another one? So he sent some of his disciples to Jesus to ask if He was the Promised One. “and said to him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’” -  Matthew 11:3. John’s momentary lapse brought a mild rebuke from Jesus. “Blessed is the one who is not offended by Me.”
    Jesus told John’s disciples to return to John with an account of what they had witnessed - healing. Christ came, bringing healing to those in need as He had promised. “But when he heard it, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.’” - Matthew 9: 12-13. Jesus was clearly in full parable mode when He declared His intention to the Pharisees. Surely, they had no concept of what he was saying, but John would know.
    Christ brought more than healing to the crowds; He brought forth the Good News of His Gospel. For those He preached to who were spiritually sick, the Gospel would be what they needed for healing. This was the initial stage of Jesus’ ministry. “And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.” - Matthew 4:23.
    Jesus’ entire earthly ministry was based on His mercy to a fallen world. He healed and preached, preached and healed. He healed broken bodies and broken souls and assured all of His Good News, that He had come bearing salvation. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” - Luke 19:10. Christ’s twofold approach to fallen man was mercy and healing. Judgment will come later but be assured, judgment will certainly come. “For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son . . . And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.” - John 5:22, 27.
    While John the Baptist may have had questions about the Messiah, he sent his concerns to Jesus, knowing that Christ was the only source for the truth. No one else could have reassured John of Jesus’ deity. Only Jesus could answer John to his satisfaction and God’s glory. Only Jesus could testify to His own place in the salvation of man. And testify He did to John’s disciples. In a matter-of-fact manner, without rancor or anger, Jesus told John’s disciples of the healings and the preaching of the Gospel. These were the proofs of Christ’s messiahship.
    We can all certainly use mercy and healing of both body and soul. And Jesus has offered us His mercy. He has offered us His healing. He has offered us His peace. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” - John 14:27.
    John the Baptist was reassured by the word of Christ that He was indeed the “One who is to come.” Let our doubts be far removed from us and let our faith in Christ rise on the wings of His word.