Jesus, John the Baptizer and the Sinful Woman

Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.

Luke 7v23

Apparently even John the Baptizer wondered if Jesus really was "The One."  If John was confused over the purpose/identity of Jesus - well no wonder we sometimes have trouble with Jesus.  It seemed that Jesus wasn't living up to John's expectations of what Jesus was supposed to be.  I'll bet we have a similar struggle.  If John was on the verge of stumbling on account of Jesus, we may be also.

The Jesus that John expected wouldn't have said what he did to the Centurion.  This Jesus wouldn't have been wandering through small towns like Nain noticing grieving widows.  The Jesus that John expected was supposed to be...well...more glorious...more powerful...more effective at changing "things."  

But it seemed that Jesus spent most of his time in small cities, rural villages, and distant hills. He was continually surrounded by dirty crowds clamoring for a healing, a deliverance, a touch. Jesus was admired by the unclean, the poor, the impure, the sinners, the traitors, the filthy, the rejects.  Jesus was snubbed, ignored, scorned by the good people, the people with possessions, power, prestige, pretty looks - for the most part.  John wondered - "didn't Dad say that the One to Come would rescue us from our enemies?"  John wondered how healing the blind and deaf, forgiving the whores and cheats was going to rescue Israel from Rome.

The kingdom of God has come to Earth through Jesus.  The kingdom of God is now upon the Earth through the body of Christ (the Church).  The kingdom of God is now upon the Earth through you and me.  The kingdom of God encourages eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners.  The kingdom of God is about healing and good news.  Those that are part of the kingdom of God believe Jesus to be right about everything, and they accept God's purpose for them.  

This describes the Centurion.  This describes the Sinful Woman.  

Does this describe you...yet?