By Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, and said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto him, Go and show John again these things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached unto them (Matthew 11:2-5).
This was quite a turnaround for John the Baptist. Earlier, he had declared that Jesus was the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” Now, sitting in prison and feeling at his lowest, he questioned whether or not Jesus was who he thought he was. At our low points, we often ask, “Lord, where are you?” Well, that is a close second to, “Are you who you say you are?”
Into a world searching for truth, salvation and healing, Jesus appeared. During this Easter season, no matter what we are going through, we must realize that we need look no further for the same truth, salvation and healing that the world was looking for then.
Today, it is becoming more and more difficult to believe the things we are told. Jesus said, “I am the truth.” We use the word “gospel” when we speak of God’s Word. John 1:14 says, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.) If we want truth- look no further than Jesus.
Many people do not realize it, but we really do need salvation. Salvation gives us eternal life that only comes through knowing Jesus as our Savior and Lord. Notice the words in the following two verses:
Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father (Galatians 1:3-4).
If we want salvation- look no further than Jesus.
Not only is Jesus truth and salvation- he is healer. Years ago, my sister was born with no bone or muscle structure in her feet and legs. The doctor told my mother that my sister would never walk.
Mom took my sister to church one Sunday night. The Pastor and the congregation prayed for her. Everyone literally saw the bones and muscles form like they should right before their eyes. Needless to say, my sister has not had one crippled day in her life.
Through the thirty-six years that I pastored, I saw many healings take place- some miraculous and some gradual. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. Isaiah 53:5 says, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” If we need healing spiritually, physically, mentally or emotionally- he is able.
All of our lives we have heard about the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus. We don’t need to ask Him, “Do we look for someone else?” We can confidently say instead, “We will look no further than Jesus.”
Dave Snyder is an Ordained Bishop with the Church of God – Cleveland, Tennessee. Before entering the ministry on a full-time basis, he was a school teacher. He also coached middle school basketball for eight years.
Dave and his wife, Sara, have two children — Craig and Karen. They also have one ten year old granddaughter — Breanna.
Dave and Sara pastored in West Virginia for thirty-six years. Sara is now retired from the banking industry, and Dave is retired from pastoring. However, Dave currently serves as prison Chaplain for the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Writing essays, articles, and devotionals is a real passion for Dave. He also enjoys playing musical instruments and singing.
by leaps and bounds 