Friday August 18, 2023

Matthew 11:16
“And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

Jesus sent these words as a greeting to John the Baptist while he was in prison, at a time when he was finding an occasion of stumbling in the humble personality of Jesus. Even the Baptist, this greatest of all the prophets of God, was really taking offense at Jesus. The fact of the matter is that there is something offensive about the person of Jesus which cannot be removed. It can only be overcome by faith.

Jesus Himself knew that He was such a stumbling-block. There is something mild, yes, even tender, in His words to John: “Blessed is he, whosoever shall find no occasion of stumbling in me!”

Jesus was not more than eight days old when the aged Simeon saw the occasion of stumbling: “Behold, this child is set for the falling and rising of many in Israel.”

In our day people speak mostly of the offense which Christ is to our intellect. And this offense is great. But the occasion of stumbling to our wills is much greater.

Consider a person who is young and who is enjoying life, who lives, and laughs, and plays, and dances. And thinks of everything else but God. Jesus comes to such a one and says: “You must be converted!” Is there not something irritating about this, something which incites to contradiction and opposition?

Jesus no doubt felt it Himself also. One notices it as He says: “Blessed is he that is not offended in me!”

Or take the religious people who live their pious lives from day to day in prayer and meditation upon the Word of God, who struggle bravely against their sins and who are friendly and kind-hearted in every way. Christ comes to them and says: You are not converted. And if you are not converted you will be forever lost, notwithstanding all the morality and religion that you have.

Is not this offensive?

And still Christ can make reply in none other than these mild and tender words: “Blessed is he, whosoever shall find no occasion of stumbling in me!”

O. Hallesby, God’s Word for Today: A Daily Devotional for the Whole Year, translator Clarence J. Carlsen (Augsburg, 1994)
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.