Thoughts of a Prophet

Thoughts of a Prophet Matthew 11:2-19

The Doubts

Matthew 11:2–6 “ Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.””

John sent his guys because Herod Antipas (Son of Herod the great) imprisoned him. Matthew 4:12 “ Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee.” Matthew 14:3 “ For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,”

He sent some of his disciples. When in prisons esp roman style, families would bring them food and good water, otherwise they only got bread and icky water. Think was san angelo water.

John being imprisoned for speaking against the sin of Herod for marrying someone else's wife and more. Why? Because Herod was a Jew. But acted Roman.

His question isn't that he truly even knows Jesus is messiah. This isn't doubt but a legit question, are you the ONE? In spite of the honor shown, the one thing John did know, this was the Lamb of God.

Jesus says, what you see and hear. Goes not to what has occured, but back to Isaiah. The signs were that which pointed to not just a sacrifice but God on earth, Messiah and more. Isaiah 35:5–6 “ Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6 Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert.”

Miracles aren't just fun things or great things. But things humans cant do. Things man can only mimic with tricks and subterfuge

Some people were rubes but these were folks who were trained, smart and able. They knew the fakers. Even the enemies of Jesus didn't say was fake, said was supernatural from Satan, because it couldn't be faked. They investigated and found each time, Jesus was something they didn't want to explain. Like many will reject even with the greatest of evidences before them.

The Prophet

Matthew 11:7–11 “ As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? (John isnt being blown by winds of doubt, he still has faith.) 8 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. (No fame, money, power. Just Jesus) 9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is he of whom it is written, “ ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ 11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

Jesus uses a lot of metaphor, shaken reed brings attention and are weak. That ain’t JTB. John wasn’t taking money from folks, fleecing the flock. Didn't have glory or house, like Jesus, no pillows at home, he used a rock. WALKED to the river uphill both ways lol. John was the greatest OT prophet and the last. Didn't have four donkeys and and two houses. He was family to the messiah. He baptized the Son of God.

There are many debates about what jesus meant about a reed. John and I are not what you expected.

John was a prophet because he brought the Word (Jesus) before the people. Jesus first disciples were Johns. And John, Jesus says, was the greatest and yet, our treasure in these earthen vessels far outweighs even the blessing that John was given on earth. Eternal life with God trumps everything.

John was used and empowered by the Holy Spirit to prepare the way, as Jesus quotes turn to Malachi 3:1, many flocked to John, because they saw the Spirit of Elijah there. It wasn’t just responding to Repentance and renewal, it was seeing him as a harbinger of the deliverance of Israel. They just misjudged the how. Jesus made it clear here again, that He was truly THE SON OF GOD Malachi 3:1–2 “ “Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the (new) covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” Says the Lord of hosts. 2 “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire And like launderers’ soap.”

The Response

Matthew 11:12–19 “ From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. (The entire leadership of Israel is coming against them) 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear. “

John by technicality is the harbinger, Elijah in a figurative sense, Matthew 17:10–13 “ And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 11 He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. 12 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.”

John pointed to Jesus, said Jesus must increase, while he decreased, John 3:30 “ He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Most likely John didn't even know he was Elijah. But a prophet even greater. Jesus is speaking about Malachi 4:5 “ Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.” This would be the prophets mentioned in Revelation - but thats a whole other study. They didn't get that it was now & later. Remember that candy? So hard chewy, yet you eat it now and it last so long, later.

John 12:47–48 “ And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.” Like much of prophecy, it reveals that Christ came to save that which was lost, and will come to again, to Judge the earth Psalm 9:8 “ He shall judge the world in righteousness, And He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness.” Romans 2:16 “ in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.”

16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, 17 “ ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.””

Such a weird thing to say eh? Humans are all Karens. No one can please us, no matter how God calls they refuse to Hear his voice. They harden their hearts and God acknowledges that. Hardening further that which man begins.

You’re like children playin at being “saved” and no matter what we present to you, you don’t want to play. The comparison is in 18-19. John didnt eat or drink (wine in suggested with 19) and yall said he was possesed. Then I came, and yall said I was gluttonus drunkard.

They saw Jesus do all these things that he said, heal, cast out demons, and still they rejected Him. Their judgement will be harsh.

Wise folks, made different choices. see what God is showing us in John and Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:22–24 “ For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”

I mentioned that debate between the Christian thinker John Lennox and the late Christopher Dawkins, Dawkins was forced to admit that he lied in his book the God Delusion, the atheist admitted that Christ was an historical character but that He didn't want to believe in Him. Not because he wasn't historically reliable or existed. Nor that His followers believed he resurrected. But because he wasn't the kind of God that fit into his idea of science. God spent millennia trying to talk to us. Still we find reasons to reject him. Why? Because of our wicked hearts that love sin. Love self and reject the only name under heaven by which men can be saved.

Would you join the party? Come and mourn the sin and celebrate our new life in Christ. The groom is calling, do you hear?