Who Is Jesus?

Luke 7:18–23

John the Baptist had already identified Jesus as the Messiah. God had given John clear evidence: the Spirit would descend and remain upon the One whom God had sent. Yet while John was imprisoned, questions arose—not because he had forgotten who Jesus was, but because the ministry of Jesus did not unfold exactly as John expected.

John’s preaching emphasized the Messiah’s future judgment. He spoke of the wheat being gathered and the chaff being burned. That message was true, but John’s understanding was incomplete. He understood the Messiah’s judgment, but he had not fully grasped that the Messiah would first come to bring salvation.

When John’s disciples asked Jesus, “Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?” Jesus did not merely answer with a claim. He answered with His works. The blind received sight, the lame walked, lepers were cleansed, the deaf heard, the dead were raised, and the poor had the gospel preached to them.

These works fulfilled the prophetic promises of Isaiah. Jesus expected John to recognize that the Scriptures were being fulfilled before his eyes. The Messiah had come, but His first mission was salvific. Judgment would come later.

Jesus concluded, “Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.” John was being encouraged not to stumble because God’s plan was unfolding differently than he expected. Jesus strengthened John’s faith so that he could remain steadfast, even though he would not live to see the full fulfillment of the Messiah’s kingdom.

Luke 7:11–17 revealed that Jesus is God, because He raised the dead by His own authority. Luke 7:18–23 reveals that Jesus is the Christ, the promised Son of David. Together, these passages present Jesus as the God-man—the One who brings salvation now and will bring judgment when He returns.