Matthew 11:6–7: “‘And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at Me.’ While they were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to see?’”

This is still the passage where some people came from John asking Jesus, “Are You the one who is to come or should we look for another?” And He said to them, “Tell John the blind see, the lame walk… the poor have the gospel preached to them” (Matthew 11:2–5). And He left the response in verse 6 as the line He wanted sent back to John: “And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at Me.”

The tendency to be offended by Jesus is very high. To take offense at God: “God has offended me. God has not come through for me. God allowed this thing to happen.” We need to watch that tendency.

We can get some insight here. John had his ministry going on and now he is in prison. He is now limited, restricted. And the imprisonment of both John and Paul was because they were doing the will of God. They were not in prison for committing any moral offense. They were unjustly imprisoned.

So when you face injustice, be careful that you do not become offended at God. Because Jesus is saying, “Blessed is anyone who takes no offense at Me.”

Probably John was trying to draw attention to his situation. “What is going to happen to this situation? Maybe the prison door will open and I will be freed”—like it happened to Peter (Acts 12:7–11). It happened once to Paul as well—the prison doors opened (Acts 16:25–26)—but it did not always happen that way. He later suffered imprisonment again and again.

And Paul tried to tell the people, “Do not take my being imprisoned in a negative way.” He wrote to the churches and told them, in essence, “What has happened to me has actually turned out for the advancement of the gospel” (Philippians 1:12–14). He also said, even if some preach Christ from false motives to make his chains more painful, he rejoices that Christ is preached (Philippians 1:15–18).

I am trying to say it could be that this is what happened with John—offended at God: “I am doing what God wants me to do, and look at what has happened to me.” Offended.

And Jesus did not promise a change in John’s circumstance. He said, “Blessed is anyone who takes no offense at Me.” We therefore, in my opinion, need to watch out, because difficult circumstances may translate into offense toward God.

Look at what happened with Adam and Eve. In a way, Eve was encouraged to be offended at God. God told them, “Do not eat from this tree” (Genesis 2:17). The serpent suggested, “God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened… God is holding back something good from you” (Genesis 3:1–5). “God is trying to deprive you. God is limiting you. God is putting you in a prison.” They adopted a false image of who God is. They were offended at God, and they acted in the wrong way.

So we need to watch out. It is insidious. You could have thousands of people who go to church on Sunday morning, who “do the right thing,” even the minister preaching on the pulpit, who is actually offended at God. It is subtle. You cannot easily see it.

“How can John be offended at God?” we might think. “How can John carry an offense?” You would not imagine that for John when you look at his history. He was highly devoted to God, a prophet of God.

And yet Jesus sends a message to him.

“Go tell John…” Maybe Jesus wants to send a message to you. He wants you to get this message: “Blessed is anyone who takes no offense at Me.”

God bless you. See you later.