Shaken to the Roots

"Are you the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?"

This is the question, recorded in Luke 7:19, that an imprisoned, soon-to-die John the Baptist sends his disciples to ask of the prophet of Nazareth, Jesus. It's really remarkable, because John had said earlier, on a better, brighter day,

 “I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. And I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the one who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen, and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” (John 1:32-34, NASB)

John had said, on that bright, sunny day in Bethany,

“Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29, NASB)

So what happened? Why is John asking questions in Luke 7:19 about something about which he had had such settled confidence much earlier?

Have you ever been shaken to the roots? Whether by sudden crisis, or a slow but relentless tide of trouble, have you ever been in the positioning of questioning everything, again?

I was backpacking, I've forgotten exactly when or where, when I came across this little scene. A giant of the forest, a great conifer, had toppled, leaving a great hole in the ground where it's root-ball had been. Something had shaken it to its roots, and it could not take the stress.



Have you ever been shaken to the roots? Has your faith ever been rocked?

Jesus did not answer John's question with a rebuke, nor did He answer it with a discourse on faith. Instead He asked, "What do you see? Go tell John what you have seen."

“Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who keeps from stumbling over Me.” (Luke 7:22-23, NASB)

Have you ever been shaken to the roots?

Doubting Christian, sometimes it's helpful to get off the merry-go-round, pull up a chair with a cup of coffee, and remember what you have seen. Recall how your life has been changed, recall how life used to be before Christ. Remember what you have seen Him do in the lives of others. Remember how He has been always faithful.

Have you ever been shaken to the roots? Take a closer look at that picture above. What do you see?