CONNECTING POINT: Luxury of Hindsight

Hindsight is everything someone once quipped. Looking back at circumstances, we can gain a greater appreciation or come to a better understanding. However, when in real-time, some matters can be confusing or completely misunderstood. Christians today have the luxury of hindsight when it comes to Jesus Christ because we have the Bible in our hands, and most accept the tenets of faith about His birth, death, resurrection, and Messiahship. This luxury was not always shared in the 1st century, even by His followers, including Thomas and, at times, other disciples. Luke includes John the Baptist as one who had questions about Jesus.

“John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, he sent them to the Lord to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else? When the men came to Jesus, they said, ‘John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’”

(Luke 7:18-20).

I’ve heard the trite comment before, and maybe you also have: “Don’t doubt Jesus?” Some voices in church circles reprimand people for having any doubt, and others dreadfully liken doubt to sin. Such approaches, in my opinion, are harsh. Doubts and questions about our faith are normal. Numerous Bible doubt examples are shared with us, including Adam, Eve, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, David, and Elijah. I think Thomas gets dismissed too much when the truth is after Jesus’ death on the cross, the disciples scattered in fear and doubt. As readers of the Bible, we sit in the “peanut gallery,” watching the events again in hindsight.

As Jesus responded to John’s disciples, He kept it simple and considered the facts. “So he replied to the messengers, ‘Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me,’” (Luke 7:22-23). The “blessing” here described by Jesus extends to anyone who can look beyond their understanding to have faith. John the Baptist’s questions were part of his faith journey and occurred in real-time, and the same for the other disciples and crowds listening to Jesus.

The religious leaders rejected both John the Baptist and Jesus (verse 30). In their legalism, they rejected the simplicity of the Gospel. During this period of Jesus’ earthly ministry, certain expectations were not met in the eyes of the cynics for Jesus to be the Messiah. They were well-trained in the prophecy of the

Messiah, but their hearts were hardened by those expectations. Even John the Baptist had certain expectations, some of which would unfold in days ahead. Jesus didn’t come with swift justice or strike with vengeance. Jesus came according to God’s plan, not man’s plan. He came showing kindness and mercy.

Jesus wraps up His teaching with a powerful but maybe overlooked statement, “But wisdom is proved right by all her children,” (Luke 7:35). The religious elite called Him a glutton and friend of sinners, they viewed John as demonic. In essence, Jesus was saying, I’m not going to argue with these overly proud critics, in due time the truth will be revealed by what kind of disciples each of us produce. Centuries later, as Christians, we continue to share the Gospel of

Jesus because He still changes lives.