“And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” (Matthew 11:6 ESV).
Matthew recorded that Jesus spoke these words to the disciples of John the Baptist, who had come from prison with John’s honest question about whether Jesus truly was the One who was to come. John, who had boldly announced the Messiah and baptized Him, now sat in chains, facing uncertainty and suffering. Jesus answered not with rebuke, but with evidence, pointing to the blind seeing, the lame walking, the dead being raised, and the poor hearing good news, clear fulfillments of the Scriptures and God’s covenant promises. Then Jesus added this solemn beatitude, declaring a blessing on those who would not stumble or fall away because He did not match their expectations. The word “offended” came from the Greek skandalizō, a term used for a stumbling block that causes someone to trip spiritually. Jesus affirmed both His identity and His mission, even while gently correcting John’s expectation for a different kind of Messiah. The blessing was pronounced on enduring faith, the kind that trusts who Jesus is and what He is doing, even when the timing and the methods appear confusing.
Like John, we can find ourselves in seasons of confinement, not necessarily behind bars, but hemmed in by suffering, disappointment, or unanswered prayers. In those moments, we may question God’s will or if we have misunderstood Him. Yet Jesus invites us to look at the evidence of His grace, power, and faithfulness in our lives and in His Word. He calls us to trust His identity and His mission, even when we do not understand His ways. In those dark seasons, we can echo Job’s courageous confession: “Though he slay me, I will hope in him” (Job 13:15). True blessing does not come from having all our questions answered, but from refusing to let doubt or unmet expectations become a stumbling block that trips up our faith. We are most blessed when we keep believing, even through mystery and delay. That is how we walk in the blessing of enduring faith.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we confess that when life becomes hard and Your ways seem unclear, our hearts are tempted to doubt. Strengthen our faith so that we will not stumble when we do not understand. Teach us to rest in Your promises and to wait with hope. Give us faith that endures. In Jesus’ name, amen.