A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

JESUS IS THE MESSIAH     

Matthew 11:2-6 “When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” 

“You can’t see the forest for the trees” is a metaphor often used to describe feeling overwhelmed or bogged down by details to the point where the big picture is no longer clear. The phrase is also used to describe people so close to a situation that they can't see it objectively. (English grammar lesson.com) Such was the case with John the Baptist’s disciples. This was also true for the Jewish leaders who rejected Jesus. It is still true for the countless who reject Him today. 

There was ample evidence that Jesus was the promised Messiah of the Old Testament. Bible scholars have found up to 300 or more prophecies in the Old Testament that were fulfilled by Jesus. It is to these prophecies that Jesus refers in today’s devotional verses, “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” 

In addition to all of the miracles Jesus performed that fulfilled Old Testament prophecies, Matthew wrote in chapter 7 verses 28 and 29: “. . . the crowds were amazed at His (Jesus’) teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.” 

Yahweh twice said that Jesus was His beloved Son. He did so first when John the Baptist baptized Jesus. The second time was when Jesus was transfigured into His holiness before the very eyes of Peter, James, and John.   

To all the doubters of the world and for those occasions when Satan would tempt you to doubt that Jesus is the Messiah, the one promised by God to take away the sins of the world, The fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies by Jesus, His authoritative teaching, His death, and resurrection attest that HE IS TRUE GOD AND YOUR SAVIOR FROM SIN.   

Prayer: Holy Spirit, draw me to the Holy Scriptures that attest to Jesus being the one promised by Yahweh to save me from my sins and be the way to for me to receive the gift of everlasting life. In His name. Amen. 

Jesus! Name of wondrous love, Name all other names above,  
Unto which must ev’ry knee Bow in deep humility. 

Jesus! Name decreed of old, To the maiden mother told,  
Kneeling in her lowly cell, By the angel Gabriel. 

Jesus! Name of priceless worth To the fallen of the earth  
For the promise that it gave, “Jesus shall His people save.” 

Jesus! Name of mercy mild, Given to the holy Child  When
the cup of human woe First He tasted here below. 

Jesus! Only name that’s giv’n Under all the mighty heav’n  
Whereby those to sin enslaved Burst their fetters and are saved. 

Jesus! Name of wondrous love, Human name of God above;  
Pleading only this, we flee Helpless, O our God, to Thee.  

Jesus! Name of Wondrous Love // LSB 900