Trusting In God’s Deliverance. Part [10] 08/09/2025 (Morning thought)

Matthew 11:10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

[The Desire of Ages pp 216&224] The Savior did not at once answer the disciples’ question. As they stood wondering at His silence, the sick and afflicted were coming to Him to be healed. Gladly would the Savior have come to John, to brighten the dungeon gloom with His own presence. But He was not to place Himself in the hands of enemies and imperil His own mission.

Visiting John was a good thing no doubt, but to do so without God’s permission would be presumption, even though it was a good thing to do, and because of this fact, deliverance from any potential dangers would not be guaranteed. In fact, if Jesus had gone to visit John, without a first clearance from The Father, He could have been put into a compromised situation where He might have been tempted to deliver Himself by using His own inherent power and had He done so He would have brought the plan of salvation to a screeching halt.

 The temptation that satan hounded Christ with from the cradle to the grave, was to use His own inherent power without authorization from The Father, even if it was to do something good. If Christ had once done so He would be immediately disqualified from being man’s representative, for we cannot exercise such power of ourselves, for we just do not possess miraculous power naturally, and as such, Jesus would be exercising an advantage over fallen man.

Hebrews 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both he that sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!

Trusting In God’s Deliverance. Part [9] 08/09/2025 (Evening thought)

Matthew 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

This particular temptation of presumption, with all its catastrophic consequences, if yielded to, nipped at the heels of Jesus constantly, as the devil sought to thwart the plan of salvation in various ways and through many different agencies. As was stated before in a previous Bible study, John was probably wondering why Jesus did not come to look for him in prison, seeing that He was his cousin and he had been faithful in the execution of duty. In fact, the Bible mentions prison visits particularly, as The Lord tallies the numbers of the faithful.

So yes, there is even a Scriptural basis for Jesus to have visited John, and therefore, the question is: Why didn’t Jesus go? The answer is as simple as it gets, for Jesus was neither sent, or directed by The Father to go, even though it is a good thing. It must be observed here that going to look for John in prison would have been a good thing, especially because he was thrown in jail for speaking the truth. But we should always remember that just because something is good, does not necessarily mean that it is God’s will that you do it, or you go there.

[The Desire of Ages pp 216] John would not discuss his doubts and anxieties with his companions. He determined to send a message of inquiry to Jesus. This he entrusted to two of his disciples, hoping that an interview with the Savior would confirm their faith, and bring assurance to their brethren. And he longed for some word from Christ spoken directly for himself. The disciples came to Jesus with their message, “Art Thou He that should come, or do we look for another?”

Matthew 11:4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which you do hear and see: 5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

May God add is blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!