Fresh Bread

Guest (Male): You are listening to Fresh Bread, Dr. Harry Reeder's daily devotional from the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals.

Harry Reeder: The slices are coming from the Gospel of Luke and specifically the seventh chapter, verse 18. The disciples of John reported the teaching of Jesus, the Sermon on the Mount, the sayings of Jesus, and the miracles of Jesus and what he has done throughout the region.

John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord saying, "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?" And when the men came to him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you saying, 'Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?'"

In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. And he answered them, "You go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the dead are raised up. The poor have good news preached to them, and blessed is the one who is not offended at and by me."

When John's messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John. Here is Jesus. He preaches, he teaches, and he does these miracles. While John's messengers are with him, he does a series of miracles—very specific miracles. He heals the sick, he cures them of their diseases, the blind receive their sight, the good news is preached to all including the poor, and the evil spirits are cast out.

What do you see? You see the prophecy of the book of Isaiah. The Year of Jubilee has come, which is the year of deliverance by the Messiah. Of course, Israel was in the midst of interpreting that politically. Jesus is showing them that this is something much greater than a political coup. This is something much better than simply a political movement. This is the kingdom of God that has come to the kingdoms of this world. This is the redemption of the defeat of all the enemies of God and the deliverance in heart, soul, and mind of my people, that I will make all things new.

The Year of Jubilee records these representative miracles that the Messiah has come. So what he is telling them is, "You go back and tell John you are seeing the prophecy of Isaiah and the Year of Jubilee fulfilled. And you can go tell him the Messiah is not to come. As to whether I am the Messiah or not, all you have to do is see the fact that the Year of Jubilee has arrived. The Messiah is here. And if the King is here, then the kingdom of God is here. And if the kingdom of God is here, then all the kingdoms of this world shall be defeated."

The kingdom of God is now. The testimony of the sufficiency, authority, and supremacy of the King is being established by the witness of what I preach, what I teach, people being delivered spiritually, and the representative signs, wonders, and miracles affirming the message and the King. You go tell John the Baptist that very message. Then he's going to turn and have a word for them concerning John the Baptist, but we'll talk about that next week.

I hope and pray you have come to this King who came for you. The kingdom of God is not yet in its fullness; that will occur when the King comes again. But the kingdom of God has already come and is now here, bringing us from darkness to light, bringing us from the sin to the Savior, and bringing us to live for that Savior until he comes again. He's given all authority to you because it belongs to him as King, and he told you, "Let's go make disciples of all the nations." Why don't you begin by worshipping this Lord's day with the Lord's people? Then join me again on Monday for another slice of Fresh Bread.

Guest (Male): "Unlocking the Relationship of Baptism and the Great Commission" is this month's Fresh Bread gift offer. With compassion, Dr. Reeder addresses the difficult question: what happens to a child who dies in infancy? Call 1-800-488-1888.