It seems that the “proof of the pudding is in the eating” as Peterson describes the passage in Luke 7 we are reading to day helps us to understand what Jesus was trying to tell people then and tell us now. What did you expect in a Savior, the Messiah? What did you expect from the one who paved the way for the Messiah who lived simply but boldly in the desert wilderness?

Jesus says, Experience Me. See for yourself Who I AM. Then go and tell. That’s what I am “hearing” as I read. What do you hear?

Luke 7, The Message
Is This What You Were Expecting?
18-19 John’s disciples reported back to him the news of all these events taking place. He sent two of them to the Master to ask the question, “Are you the One we’ve been expecting, or are we still waiting?”

20 The men showed up before Jesus and said, “John the Baptizer sent us to ask you, ‘Are you the One we’ve been expecting, or are we still waiting?’”

21-23 In the next two or three hours Jesus healed many from diseases, distress, and evil spirits. To many of the blind he gave the gift of sight. Then he gave his answer: “Go back and tell John what you have just seen and heard:

The blind see,
The lame walk,
Lepers are cleansed,
The deaf hear,
The dead are raised,
The wretched of the earth have God’s salvation hospitality extended to them.

“Is this what you were expecting? Then count yourselves fortunate!”

24-27 After John’s messengers left to make their report, Jesus said more about John to the crowd of people. “What did you expect when you went out to see him in the wild? A weekend camper? Hardly. What then? A sheik in silk pajamas? Not in the wilderness, not by a long shot. What then? A messenger from God? That’s right, a messenger! Probably the greatest messenger you’ll ever hear. He is the messenger Malachi announced when he wrote,

I’m sending my messenger on ahead
To make the road smooth for you.

28-30 “Let me lay it out for you as plainly as I can: No one in history surpasses John the Baptizer, but in the kingdom he prepared you for, the lowliest person is ahead of him. The ordinary and disreputable people who heard John, by being baptized by him into the kingdom, are the clearest evidence; the Pharisees and religious officials would have nothing to do with such a baptism, wouldn’t think of giving up their place in line to their inferiors.

31-35 “How can I account for the people of this generation? They’re like spoiled children complaining to their parents, ‘We wanted to skip rope and you were always too tired; we wanted to talk but you were always too busy.’ John the Baptizer came fasting and you called him crazy. The Son of Man came feasting and you called him a lush. Opinion polls don’t count for much, do they? The proof of the pudding is in the eating.”

We are blessed when we expect exactly what God’s Word tells us to expect, know, take in and give out. Just as breathing sustains life, God’s Word sustains our Walk with Him. The “proof” of Jesus living in us shows in our lives, too.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for salvation through Jesus, Your Son, that enables us to come to You each morning. You are on my mind throughout the day because of knowing You. Our relationship is sweet and whole again because of the work on the Cross that brought the wall down between us. We praise You for your protection and provision with blessings undeserved. Continue to be with us. Always. This is what we expect. These are the “word of mouth” experiences that we will share with others.
In Jesus Name, Amen