OCT 25

Luke 7:22
Memorise Luke 7:22
“tell… what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk,…”

The general focus of Luke 7:22 is Jesus replying to two of John the Baptizer’s disciples who wanted to know whether Jesus was truly the prophesied Messiah that was to come. Jesus answered their question by telling them of His miracles of healing – the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead raised and lastly the fact that the gospel is preached to the poor. These were clear fulfilments of what the prophets had foretold in verses like Isaiah 61:1. Isaiah had prophesied that the Messiah would come in the power of the Holy Spirit to bring freedom to those oppressed by sin and evil.

The preaching of the gospel to the poor is the climax of His work. However, the word “poor” should not be narrowly interpreted as those with little or no money. It actually speaks of the lowly and meek in heart, as was prophesied in Isaiah 61:1. This word used by Luke, who was looking back to Isaiah 61:1, encompasses not just the material underclass of society who are suffering and helpless, but also those who have the humble and meek spirit that are seeking after God. God is favourably disposed toward those who are lowly and contrite in spirit.

And so we understand that the gospel is definitely for all – not only for the poor but also for the rich. Yet for many rich people, what the Bible says still holds true. “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:25). However, difficult does not mean impossible as two verses down Jesus continued with these words, “With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible” (v.27).

Dear teen, some of us have the mistaken notion that the gospel is for the pitiful poor and not for the snobbish rich. The Bible makes it clear that the gospel is for all for Jesus died for all. The rich need Jesus as much as the poor. All souls are precious to the Lord. Therefore, as the Holy Spirit leads and guides us, let us witness to one and all.

Thought: Christ’s love for the lowly strikes a chord above the miracles.
Prayer: Father in heaven, may I witness to both the lowly and to the wealthy and to all who will hear Thee.