Third Week of Advent

​While John is imprisoned he sent some of his followers to Jesus with one of the most important questions ever asked, “Are you the one who is to come or are we to wait for another?” John had not seen Jesus’ public ministry he only heard about it from prison.
 
Christ responds to the question brought to him by the messengers in an interesting way, basically saying look what is happening. He does not say “yes I am he,” he describes the blind seeing, the deaf hearing, and the dead regaining life.
 
John’s question shows a lack of certainty on the part of John. Perhaps Jesus’s way did not quite fit John’s idea of how the messiah would be. John seems to have been expecting a harsher and more judgmental messiah.
 
Jesus then addressed the crowd of people who have gathered to hear him speak. He asks them did you go out to see a reed swayed by the wind? In the Jordan valley giant reeds grow along the streams and rivers. They are very tall and are sensitive to the slightest breeze. These reeds were used for measuring rods and walking sticks. He seems to be contrasting the unbending convictions of John with the strong but flexible reeds. He then compares the clothing of prophets and the clothing of kings. He ask them if they went to see a prophet, the last of the prophets had lived about 450 years before. The theme seems to be what kind of messiah they are looking for and how does he measure up.
 
What signs of the coming of the Lord do you see in your own life?