Don't Stumble over Jesus

Preliminary:

Invite to Matthew 11

Introduction:

The possibilities for disillusionment on the Christian path are numerous and just as varied.

Imagine you're at a fancy restaurant expecting an amazing meal, but when it arrives, it's cold and tasteless. You feel disappointed and let down. That's how some people experience disillusionment in their faith - they expected something amazing from God, but it feels like nothing is happening. It's like getting a cold, tasteless meal when you were expecting something delicious.

“Babe Ruth had hit 714 home runs during his baseball career and was playing one of his last full major league games. It was the Braves versus the Reds in Cincinnati. But the great Ruth was no longer as agile as he had once been. He fumbled the ball and threw badly, and in one inning alone his errors were responsible for most of the five runs scored by Cincinnati.

As the Babe walked off the field after the third out and headed toward the dugout, a crescendo of yelling and booing reached his ears. Just then a boy jumped over the railing onto the playing field. With tears streaming down his face, he threw his arms around the legs of his hero.

Ruth didn’t hesitate for one second. He picked up the boy, hugged him, and set him down on his feet, patting his head gently, they left the field together.” – Ted W. Engstrom, The Pursuit of Excellence, 1982, Zondervan Corporation, pp. 66-67.

The crowd had lost their faith and their trust in the once great athlete, they were looking to success as only a win - while the young boy - understood something valuable - Babe Ruth was still his hero even if he didn’t measure up to all of his expectations.

John the Baptist had to learn this as well - lets read about it

Matthew 11:1–6 KJV 1900

1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities. 2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? 4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: 5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

Disillusionment is leading people in the wrong direction

Matthew does a fascinating job of pointing this out not just with John the Baptist but this whole section deals with three great cycles of unbelief in Jesus’ ministry. He was not turning out to be the kind of Messiah people had expected. They were becoming disappointed and disillusioned in him.

Thematically the three chapters (chs. 11–13) are held together by the rising tide of disappointment in and opposition to the kingdom of God that was resulting from Jesus’ ministry. He was not turning out to be the kind of Messiah the people had expected. Even John the Baptist had doubts (vv. 2–19), and the Galilean cities that were sites of most of Jesus’ miracles hardened themselves in unbelief (vv. 20–24). The nature of Jesus’ person and ministry were “hidden” (an important word) from the wise, despite the most open and compassionate of invitations (vv. 28–30). Conflicts with Jewish leaders began to intensify (12:1–45), while people still misunderstood the most basic elements of Jesus’ teaching and authority (12:46–50). But does this mean that he had been checkmated or that the kingdom had not come after all? Matthew 13 is the answer—the kingdom of God was continuing its advance even though it was often contested and ignored.

Carson, D. A. (1984). Matthew. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke (Vol. 8, pp. 260–261). Zondervan Publishing House.

- even someone so great as John the Baptist that great preacher - that prophet - Jesus said, “yea, and more than a prophet” and later he will say, “Verily I say unto you, among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist”

John had often borne witness to Jesus; now Jesus bears witness to John. (D. A. Carson)

Jesus’s answer calls John’s messengers’ attention to two things

what is heard (words)

what is seen (works).

Six specifics are given in Matthew 11:5:

1. Blind people see

2. Lame people walk

3. Lepers are cleansed

4. Deaf people hear

5. Dead people are raised

6. Poor people hear the good news

Each of these are not direct quotes but are allusions to Old Testament scriptures and they are what the Scriptures they had access to would have shown their messiah to be doing.

With Jesus’ exhortation and admonishment

Matthew 11:6 “6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.”

We begin to see things a little clearer -

The NIV Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

This tells me there is a possibility dare a say an easy possibility to stumble over the only hope that we have

But oh the blessings of not stumbling of not being tripped up by Christ!

Don’t Stumble over the Simplicity (Matthew 11:1-3):

Explain John the Baptist's question to Jesus, highlighting his doubts despite his strong faith.

Emphasize how sometimes we can stumble over the simplicity of God's message, expecting it to be more complex or dramatic.

God often works in simple, humble ways to reveal His truth and power.

1 Corinthians 1:27 KJV 1900

27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

During a Billy Sunday evangelistic campaign, a mentally impaired boy came faithfully each night to sing in the choir. “Joey was not very bright,” said Homer Rodeheaver, the well-known song leader for Billy Sunday, “but he never missed any of our meetings and wouldn’t leave until he shook my hand. Sometimes I was embarrassed by the way he constantly tailed me, and I secretly wished he’d go away.”

Then one evening a man came to Rodeheaver and said, “Thank you for being kind to my son Joey. He’s not right mentally, but never has he enjoyed anything so much as singing in the choir. He worked hard doing simple chores for people so he could contribute to the collection. Through his pleadings my wife and five other children came to this evangelistic campaign and have now received Christ. Last night his 75-year-old grandfather, who has been an atheist all his life, was saved, and tonight his grandmother also came forward. Now our entire family is converted!’” Joey was one of God’s faithful servants. Our Daily Bread, April 2

Don’t stumble over the simple things that come from Jesus.

Don’t Stumble over the Sagacity (Matthew 11:4-5):

What I mean by the fancy big word “sagacity” is the Wisdom of God

“God’s wisdom is the perfect divine judgment and insight arising from his infinite knowing—and this wisdom is something he shares with his creatures according to their need and for their good.”

Colossians 2:2–3 KJV 1900

That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

“The wisdom of God is God fully exercising his infinite knowledge”

God is wise

God’s words are wise

God’s acts are wise

God is the source of wisdom

Wisdom Is Based in Omniscience God is omniscient or all-knowing (see chapter 8). The omniscient God knows all ends and all means; further, He knows which of these means are the most effective to achieve these ends. It follows that God’s omniscience enables Him to be wise; that is, it is the necessary condition for omnibenevolence (God’s being all-good or all-loving). What is more, His omnibenevolence assures that He will choose the best means to the best ends. Finally, His omnipotence enables Him to achieve His ends by the means He chooses.

Wisdom Is Based in Omnipotence Even an all-knowing and all-good Being does not guarantee all-wise actions, merely wise understanding. In order for God’s omnibenevolence to be operative, He must also be all-powerful, for even if He knows the most effective means to an end (in His omniscience) and the best means to the best ends (in His omnibenvolence), He must also be all-powerful in order to achieve His desired ends.

Geisler, N. L. (2003). Systematic theology, volume two: God, creation (p. 216). Bethany House Publishers.

God's wisdom, often referred to as sagacity, is indeed manifested in ways that can surprise and challenge our preconceived notions. Here are several ways in which this unfolds according to the Bible:

Using the Weak to Confound the Strong: God's wisdom is often seen in using seemingly weak or unlikely individuals or circumstances to accomplish His purposes. For example, choosing a shepherd boy like David to become a king (1 Samuel 16:1-13) or using the apostle Paul, formerly a persecutor of Christians, to spread the Gospel (Acts 9:1-19).

Reversing Human Expectations: God's wisdom frequently turns human wisdom upside down. Jesus' teachings, such as "the last shall be first" (Matthew 20:16) and "blessed are the meek" (Matthew 5:5), challenge conventional worldly wisdom and highlight the upside-down nature of God's kingdom.

Working in Paradoxes: God's wisdom is expressed in paradoxes that challenge our logical reasoning but reveal deeper spiritual truths. For instance, Jesus teaches that to gain life, one must lose it (Matthew 16:25), emphasizing the sacrificial nature of discipleship.

Redeeming Suffering and Trials: God's wisdom is evident in how He redeems suffering and trials, using them to refine our character, deepen our faith, and bring about greater good. The crucifixion of Jesus is the ultimate example, turning a moment of apparent defeat into the means of salvation for humanity (Matthew 27:32-56).

Unveiling Hidden Purposes: God's wisdom often unveils hidden purposes behind events or situations that initially seem chaotic or senseless. Joseph's story in the Old Testament, where God used his trials and imprisonment to fulfill a greater plan of saving his family during famine (Genesis 37-50), illustrates this aspect of God's wisdom.

Working Through Diversity and Unity: God's wisdom is seen in how He works through the diversity of His creation, uniting people from different backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives to accomplish His purposes. The early church's unity amidst cultural diversity is a testament to this aspect of God's wisdom (Acts 2:1-13).

Transforming Hearts and Minds: God's wisdom transforms hearts and minds, leading people to see truth and righteousness in ways they had not previously understood. The conversion of Saul (Paul) on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-19) is a powerful example of God's wisdom radically changing a person's life and perspective.

In summary, embracing God's sagacity invites us to trust His ways, even when they seem contrary to human wisdom, knowing that His wisdom surpasses our comprehension and leads to greater glory and fulfillment as revealed in the Bible.

Jesus acknowledges that following Him may not always align with human expectations or societal norms, but those who trust in Him and His mission, without being deterred by doubts or obstacles, experience the blessedness of a deep and unwavering faith.

Don’t Stumble over the Sacrality (Matthew 11:6):

Reflect on Jesus' affirmation of blessedness for those who do not stumble because of Him.Examine the concept of sacrality, emphasizing the sacredness and divine nature of Christ's mission and message.

We must see Jesus Christ for who HE is not who we want him to be, recognizing Him as the fulfillment of God's promises and the source of true blessing and salvation.

John had become disillusioned by the popular thought of his day that the messiah would come in and destroy the Romans and all sinfulness - they were looking for who they wanted - not who God wanted to send.

The Righteous ONE who came to make us RIGHTEOUS - the holiness - the sacrality - the SACREDNESS of HIM don’t stumble over that

He is HOly and has called us to holiness - don’t let that be a stumbling block in your life -

Don’t Stumble over the Solidity (Matthew 11:6):

It is embarrassing when it happens but it has happened to me on numerous occassions - the toe of my shoe will catch on something while I’m walking that doesn’t give - and if I’m not careful down I go

Jesus is equated to a stumbling block in the scriptures - he is solid - he doesn’t move and we can’t move him to fit what we want and if we are attempting to do that we will trip and fall

Highlight the solid foundation of faith that Jesus provides, contrasting it with the shifting uncertainties of worldly wisdom and human expectations.Challenge believers not to stumble over doubts or difficulties but to stand firm on the solid rock of Christ's teachings and promises.Offer practical applications for maintaining a steadfast faith in the face of challenges and uncertainties.

On Christ the SOlid ROck I stand - not just on HIM but even on what He says there is stability and solid footing and consistency and firmness and anchoring grounding

Don’t Stumble over the Simplicity

Don’t Stumble over the Sagacity

Don’t Stumble over the Sacrality

Don’t Stumble over the Solidity

Jesus gives a blessing to those who will not stumble or be offended or unravel or deconstruct what He has said

I want to stand not stumble

I want to receive not reject

I want to embrace not be ashamed

The blessings are so great he doesn’t list them here as he does in the Sermon on the Mount in the beattitudes but blessed means to be happy or I like the idea of fulfilled or flourishing

complete - whole - HEAVEN!!!