Big Idea - What happens when Jesus turns out to be someone very different than what we thought? We all have ideas about what we want Jesus to be, or what we need Him to be, what we think He should be doing, and how He should be doing it. We are all shaped by experience our worldview which does not line up with who Jesus is and conditions us to want Jesus to be someone very different. But, we must know and worship the true Jesus by seeing Him through the dual lens of Scripture and faith. Even John the greatest of the prophets was at risk of stumbling over the real Jesus. He needed to understand who Jesus was from all that was prophesied about Him and accept by faith its truth. All Scripture points to Him and He is the grand climax and main point of the entire story!
How much more did the crowds need to see and understand Jesus through the lens of the prophets including John? He was the greatest prophet to point to Jesus because He was the last before the Messiah came. All the Prophets and Law were given to point us to Jesus - to show us who He really is! For those who have the faith to hear it, he is Elijah - therefore the Great Day of the Lord has come. But, for those who look through any other lens, they will only find fault with the Jesus they see - they will stumble because of Him.
