And blessed is the one who is not offended by me. The beatitude for those who do not stumble over Jesus — who are not caused to fall away by the character of his ministry — is the gentle challenge addressed to John (and through him to everyone who finds Jesus' messianic style disorienting). The stumbling block may be the absence of political triumph, the association with sinners, the healing of gentiles, or the failure to liberate John from prison. The blessedness of not being offended is the blessedness of receiving Jesus as he is rather than as one expected.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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