Sunday 14 December 2025
Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them." (vs 4-5)
Background
In this passage, we return to John the Baptist, whom we read about last Sunday, but much later in his story. No longer is he preaching in the wilderness; now he is imprisoned and questioning whether Jesus is truly the Messiah.
Jesus responds by sending a message to reassure John: a gift of hope. He offers a collage of prophecies from Isaiah, verses that both he and John likely held dear. These were words that pointed to a new age of liberation and restoration. It’s clear that both John and Jesus had a deep love for Isaiah 61: “The spirit of the Lord is upon me…” Jesus is saying that he (Jesus) is the Messiah. In him, these ancient promises have come to life. The long-awaited eschaton (the final event in God's plan for the world) has dawned.
Everything Jesus mentions in his reply reflects what he has been doing throughout his ministry, as recorded in Matthew chapters 4 to 10. This passage serves as a kind of summary of the work of God through Jesus.
Notably, Jesus is selective in his use of Isaiah. He omits any verses that focus on punishment, even though such themes are present in the original prophecies. Instead, he highlights healing, restoration, and good news.
He speaks of the blind receiving sight, perhaps metaphorically as well as physically, as people begin to perceive the unseen world. The lame walk, the lepers are cleansed (a striking expansive addition, since lepers are not mentioned in these Isaiah texts),and the deaf hear – again, maybe also metaphorically, as people finally begin to 'get it'. The dead are raised, and, most significantly, the poor receive good news.
And so too can we offer gifts of hope to those around us. As we live a Methodist Way of Life we can:
- share insight and understanding (pray, learn, notice)
- inspire people to get up and follow Jesus (tell)
- offer a deep confidence that life is stronger than death (live)
- proclaim good news to people experiencing poverty (challenge, flourish, serve).
Although we must also remember, as verse 6 reminds us, that not everyone is ready to hear Jesus' message – yet.
The Methodist Church is running an Advent campaign, Gifted. To find out more, please follow this link: methodist.org.uk/for-churches/christmasresources
To Ponder:
- What does the good news of Jesus mean to people experiencing poverty or exclusion today?
- How are we called to be bearers of that news?
Prayer
God of hope and healing, thank you for the signs of your kingdom breaking into our world. Help us to share your good news with courage and compassion, so that those who feel forgotten may know your love and find joy. Amen.
Bible notes author: The Revd Andy Fishburne
Andy is a Discipleship and Faith Formation Officer for the Methodist Church in Britain. He works to support individuals and communities in deepening their life of faith and discipleship, helping people explore what it means to live a Methodist Way of Life. His role includes developing resources and encouraging creative approaches to faith formation across the Connexion.