Many years ago, some folks who had provided a home stay for a Japanese girl we knew stopped in to visit us. The husband told us about all his suffering as he was going  through cancer and cancer treatments. Finally He said, “If my child was going through this, and I had the power to stop it, I would; so why isn’t God stopping my suffering?”

Not long before, I had read the account of John the Baptist in prison who, hearing of all the miracles Jesus was doing for other people while he remained in prison, sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the Coming One, or do we look for another?” (Matthew 11:3)

In other words, “What about me?” If you’re the One (the Messiah), why aren’t you rescuing me?”

Jesus responded to John’s question by saying, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind see 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. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” (Matthew 11:4-6)

The last sentence seems a bit cryptic, but it rang in my heart as I debated about how to answer Jerry’s* question. Did I dare tell him what Jesus said to John? Even though I was hesitant, I knew what I needed to do.

“Jerry, what you’re saying reminds me of how John the Baptist felt when he heard about all the people Jesus was healing while he sat in a dungeon, un-rescued. John, the one who had said of Jesus, ‘Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,’ told his disciples to ask Jesus, ‘Are you the Coming One, or should we look for someone else?’”

I paused and made eye contact with Jerry.  “Jesus told his disciples, ‘Go back and report to John what you hear and see: the blind see 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. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.’ (Matthew 11:4-6 Emphasis mine.)

“Jesus was telling John, all the things you’ve been hearing about me are true, I am doing all those things, and you’ll be blessed if you’re not offended because I’m rescuing those people but I’m not rescuing you. Jesus knew that because John was offended, Satan was sowing seeds of doubt in his mind about who Jesus was.

“The same thing can happen to us when we become offended because Jesus doesn’t do what we think He should. But Scripture tells us that Jesus only did what the Father told him to do, and for whatever reason, God must not have told Jesus to rescue John the Baptist.

“We don’t know God’s plan for you, Jerry, but we pray that you will not be offended if He doesn’t do what you think He should, but would go on putting your complete trust in Jesus.”

We didn’t live near these friends so that was the only conversation we had with them, but I learned later that Jerry didn’t receive his healing in this world.

On Sunday, we heard the only sermon I’ve ever heard preached on this Scripture and the preacher’s interpretation was exactly the same as mine. In conclusion the pastor said, “If Jesus didn’t rescue John the Baptist, one of his favorite people in the world (Matthew 11:11), He may not heal you or rescue you.”

Some people would say that we have no faith if we say something like that, but I don’t agree. When we go through an illness or a time of suffering, I believe our first step is to surrender our will to God’s will. And often as I pray, I say, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)

When I pray, whether for myself or someone else who is sick or suffering, I try to be sensitive to how the Holy Spirit is leading me to pray. If I am offended with what God is allowing to happen, it may hinder my ability to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying. Just because something is happening doesn’t mean it’s God’s will. Sometimes I receive a strong prompting to take authority over Satan or rebuke him in Jesus’ name. Most of all we need the mind of Christ as we listen and obey.

Heavenly Father, protect us from being offended if you aren’t doing what we think you should do. Help us surrender our will to yours but also to be ready to do battle by the power of the Holy Spirit if this is the work of the enemy. May our prayer always be Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done… Amen.