Our paragraph topic is: (The Baptist's deputation) Part 2.
Now we know how scandal is spread, through the mouth of others. Those who have been bitten by Scandal will desire to tell others of the news and thereby pass it on to others. And the flame spreads, the flame of scandal. Christ was able to see Scandal for what she is, a witch clothed in partial truths and lies. And he saw it in the disciples of John the Baptist. Christ knew that John did not doubt his origins. John had baptized him and witnessed the heavens open and the descent of the Holy Spirit. John knew Christ even when he was in his mothers womb, so how could he allow Scandal to take hold of him. Yet his disciples wanted to regain their position. They wanted the fame that they had when John preached in the Jordan and thousands came to see him from the surrounding territories. They missed their main attraction.
When the disciples approached under the guise of a question from John, Christ saw Scandal approaching. They asked their question allowing Scandal to come forth doubting the origin of Christ. But Christ closed the door and prevented Scandal from taking hold. He told the disciples of John, "Go and report to John what you have heard and seen: the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise, the poor have the gospel preached to them." This was something that they already knew. They had reported to John while he was in prison all the miracles that Christ performed. They had stirred up this hatred for Christ and brought forth the doubt in their minds of his origins. John listened to all of their issues until he could stand no more. So he sent them to the one who would cancel their doubts. He sent them to the one who would destroy their fears. He sent them to the one who would lock Scandal in a prison and not allow her to run loose.
You see, Scandal had to have a platform. She had to run on the name of an authority. She had to have someone of notoriety to pitch her claims. And she used the disciples of John and the name of John the Baptist to start her campaign. When she approached through the disciples of John Christ saw her coming. He told the disciples to carry the message back to John, but he also told them, "Blessed is he who is not scandalized in me." This is a better statement than cursed is he who scandalizes me. For this is what the disciples of John sought to do by asking the question and allowing doubt and thereby Scandal, to come forth.
Christ opened the door for the disciples of John to gain salvation. He stopped Scandal from coming forth. He offered the opportunity for the disciples of John to be blessed, a far better choice than Scandal offered. Christ offers us the same choice today to be blessed. Scandal wants you to be cursed. Scandal wants to spread her rotten lies and deceits to destroy those who hear them. She wants to pull down those who would be exalted and crush their dignity and character. She wants to bring shame and dishonor. She wants to destroy. Her tools are the one thing that we use easily and most often, our mouth. It is the one thing that speaks often without our having control, only because she has placed her web of lies within us to be passed on to others.
Are you a disciple of Scandal? Do you spread her lies and deceit at will, without hesitation or forethought? She will destroy both you and the person with which she talks about. She will shame you. She will cause you pain. Yet she tempts you with the momentary pleasure of having spoken her words to your satisfaction. For in that moment she gives you a sense of power. She allows you to think that you are in control when you scandalize others. But this is only a temporary pleasure like taking a drug that gets you high for a moment and then brings you crashing down hard. Do not allow yourself to become her tool. Do not accept her false promise of power. Beware of her deception and lies. For just as she spreads them about others she will spread them about you also. Christ said blessed is he who is not scandalized in him. As a disciple of Christ and a believer, do not be cursed by Scandal. Are you ready to stop Scandal from taking hold of you? Be blessed in Christ!!
Now we know how scandal is spread, through the mouth of others. Those who have been bitten by Scandal will desire to tell others of the news and thereby pass it on to others. And the flame spreads, the flame of scandal. Christ was able to see Scandal for what she is, a witch clothed in partial truths and lies. And he saw it in the disciples of John the Baptist. Christ knew that John did not doubt his origins. John had baptized him and witnessed the heavens open and the descent of the Holy Spirit. John knew Christ even when he was in his mothers womb, so how could he allow Scandal to take hold of him. Yet his disciples wanted to regain their position. They wanted the fame that they had when John preached in the Jordan and thousands came to see him from the surrounding territories. They missed their main attraction.
When the disciples approached under the guise of a question from John, Christ saw Scandal approaching. They asked their question allowing Scandal to come forth doubting the origin of Christ. But Christ closed the door and prevented Scandal from taking hold. He told the disciples of John, "Go and report to John what you have heard and seen: the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise, the poor have the gospel preached to them." This was something that they already knew. They had reported to John while he was in prison all the miracles that Christ performed. They had stirred up this hatred for Christ and brought forth the doubt in their minds of his origins. John listened to all of their issues until he could stand no more. So he sent them to the one who would cancel their doubts. He sent them to the one who would destroy their fears. He sent them to the one who would lock Scandal in a prison and not allow her to run loose.
You see, Scandal had to have a platform. She had to run on the name of an authority. She had to have someone of notoriety to pitch her claims. And she used the disciples of John and the name of John the Baptist to start her campaign. When she approached through the disciples of John Christ saw her coming. He told the disciples to carry the message back to John, but he also told them, "Blessed is he who is not scandalized in me." This is a better statement than cursed is he who scandalizes me. For this is what the disciples of John sought to do by asking the question and allowing doubt and thereby Scandal, to come forth.
Christ opened the door for the disciples of John to gain salvation. He stopped Scandal from coming forth. He offered the opportunity for the disciples of John to be blessed, a far better choice than Scandal offered. Christ offers us the same choice today to be blessed. Scandal wants you to be cursed. Scandal wants to spread her rotten lies and deceits to destroy those who hear them. She wants to pull down those who would be exalted and crush their dignity and character. She wants to bring shame and dishonor. She wants to destroy. Her tools are the one thing that we use easily and most often, our mouth. It is the one thing that speaks often without our having control, only because she has placed her web of lies within us to be passed on to others.
Are you a disciple of Scandal? Do you spread her lies and deceit at will, without hesitation or forethought? She will destroy both you and the person with which she talks about. She will shame you. She will cause you pain. Yet she tempts you with the momentary pleasure of having spoken her words to your satisfaction. For in that moment she gives you a sense of power. She allows you to think that you are in control when you scandalize others. But this is only a temporary pleasure like taking a drug that gets you high for a moment and then brings you crashing down hard. Do not allow yourself to become her tool. Do not accept her false promise of power. Beware of her deception and lies. For just as she spreads them about others she will spread them about you also. Christ said blessed is he who is not scandalized in him. As a disciple of Christ and a believer, do not be cursed by Scandal. Are you ready to stop Scandal from taking hold of you? Be blessed in Christ!!
