What are you Looking For?

Psalm 146:5-10 / Matthew 11:2-11

John’s Question

Certainty

John wanted to be certain, but hadn’t he been?

Matthew 3:11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

John 1:29 “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

John was in a weakened position

Matthew 14:3-5 “For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 4 because John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet.”

God is big enough for our moments of weakness and doubt, and doubting or questioning does not invalidate our salvation in Christ. When our faith is weak, it is right to seek both certainty and clarity.

Questions are a good thing

Honest Questions are the pathway to learning

Family and Church ought to be the safest place to ask questions

Questions are the vehicle, not the destination

Jesus’ Enigmatic Answer

Why did He answer this way?

It connected Him with prophetic scripture

It provided a more secure answer than a simple claim

What Mary Knew

The angel Gabriel told her a lot in Luke 1

She (not wholly unlike John) would have been raised in a community saturated by the prophetic texts

Women knew more than they are often credited with

Acts 18:26 “ [Apollos] began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.”

John 4:25 “The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.””

Who did God entrust the role of being the first to announce the Resurrection of Christ?

Matthew 28:1 “Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.”

Matthew 28:6 “He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.”

Matthew 28:8—10 “So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.””

How much do you know?

This is not a condemning indictment, but rather an invitation and exhortation to begin or renew your learning about Jesus. Now is the perfect time! Don’t delay!

Matthew 11:29 “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

What are you looking for?

John?

No one is greater -

John though imperfect was truly an exemplary man, but not the only time Scripture commended someone as an example”

Genesis 6:9 “These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.”

Job 1:1 “There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.”

Psalm 119:1 “Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord!”

Contrast between earthly greatness and heavenly greatness - Kingdom citizenship is more important than reputation or righteous accolades

Luke 10:20 “Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.””

Luke 11:27-28 “As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” 28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!””

Bottom line: John’s role in the history of redemption; being the voice crying in the wilderness is unmatched, yet that is NOT what is most important, just as a large or prominent position (even in ministry) is NOT in itself to be sought. Rather, we are to seek entrance into the Kingdom of God, which is only through Christ Jesus

In Church?

A place to perform?

A place to be entertained?

An imperfect family of families where we can find community, support, and accountability, and most importantly the Gospel?

In Jesus?

Your own Jeannie, just without a bottle?

Matthew 16:22-23 “And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.””

A figure upon whom we all project our preferences?

John 6:15 “Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.”

God’s Messiah who condescended to identify with us in our brokenness to rescue us and lead us in holiness?

Psalm 23:3 “He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”

Psalm 146:5 “Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God,”

Church Family, as we continue our journey of faith and discovery, as we have seen that the advent and imminent return of Jesus is THE answer to our deepest needs, we do well to stop and ask What are we looking for? The Christ of our preferences, that could never measure up to God’s Messiah, or the actual, historical, present, and glorious Christ our savior? God help us to seek Jesus!