This is Spoken Gospel. We’re dedicated to seeing Jesus in all of scripture. In each episode, we see what’s happening in a Biblical text and how it sheds light on Jesus and his gospel. Let’s jump in. Back in Matthew 3, John the Baptist boldly proclaimed Jesus is God’s anointed servant, called the Christ or Messiah. Many Jews believed the Messiah would be a military leader who would overthrow the Roman occupation and re-establish a royal throne in Jerusalem. Instead, Jesus is a homeless teacher. Worse still, John the Baptist finds himself imprisoned by the very powers many thought Jesus would usurp. So, it’s not surprising that John sends some of his followers to ask Jesus directly. Is he really God’s chosen Redeemer? Jesus answers with a list of actions he has done. The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. This was not the politically charged answer, filled with vindication, that the people were expecting. Jesus then rebukes several Galilean towns that witnessed his miracles with their eyes but were not willing to believe his message. Jesus says their punishment will be worse than the judgment seen in the Old Testament. They did not believe because no one can truly know who Jesus is unless he reveals himself to them. And in a prayer, Jesus thanks God that the truth is hidden from the wise and revealed to “little children”. John’s disciples ask a question we all ask today, “Is Jesus the Savior we need?” Jesus answers from an Old Testament passage from the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah wrote that God would restore Israel’s glory and bring vengeance and judgment. That was the salvation people wanted. But Jesus would not bring salvation through violence. In the very next verse, Isaiah says this salvation will be far more like healing the sick than conquering the powerful. You see, we have sickness, disease, impurity, deafness, blindness, and poverty both physically and spiritually. Our physical death and diseases resulted from a spiritual rebellion. So, Jesus comes and saves us from our worst enemy—sin and the consequence of death. But what are we to make of Jesus thanking God for hiding his identity from the towns who will be destroyed? Jesus tells us who his identity is hidden from—it's the wise and the understanding. He did not come to save those who think they are already secure, but those who know that they are not. That is why he could say to those who believe in him, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” So, I pray that the Holy Spirit would open your eyes to see the God who reveals his Son to those who need him most. And that you would see Jesus as God’s chosen servant who offers us merciful rest.