Responding to Jesus
Notes
Transcript
18 John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, 19 he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’ ”
21 At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. 22 So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 23 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
24 After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 25 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom it is written:
“ ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’
28 I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
29 (All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John. 30 But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)
31 Jesus went on to say, “To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:
“ ‘We played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not cry.’
33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ 35 But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”
Information that demands a response - the message of Jesus is an invitation
Come thou long expected Jesus , come o come Emmanuel/Come all you faithful, come and worship, come behold the wondrous mystery, come let us adore him
Three Responses to Jesus
Question
Question
18 John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, 19 he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’ ”
21 At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. 22 So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 23 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
Situation
Situation
John is in prison
20 Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.
2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples
Jesus ministry is one of freeing captives from prison
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Some questions are understandable for John
Dealing with Doubt
Dealing with Doubt
There is often a gap between God’s promises and their fulfillment
Living in this gap is one of the hardest tasks of the Christian
Two extreme responses
Treat doubt as a good and noble thing
But
6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
21 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.
Ignore hard things
Treat them as easy
But
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?
3 Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to me.
John’s Response to Doubt
John’s Response to Doubt
He asks a genuine question
19 he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
Asking God hard questions is an act of worship not an act of doubt
Asking God recognizes that he is the one who has the answer
Asking an expert for help
Asking God acknowledges the relationship he has entered with you
The person I ask the most from is the person I love the most – my wife
Asking God imitates Jesus
46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
Worshipful questioning requires a submissive heart
Jesus Response to John’s Doubt
Jesus Response to John’s Doubt
22 So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 23 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
Jesus simply presents his actions to John
His response demands that John knows Scripture – what do these things mean?
His response requires faith – God is fulfilling his promise, but it doesn’t look the way John anticipated
Implication
Implication
Godly questioning moves us towards rather than away from Jesus
Repent
Repent
24 After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 25 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom it is written:
“ ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’
28 I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
29 (All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John. 30 But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)
There is another positive response to Jesus presented – the response of John’s followers
Situation
Situation
John has been preaching his anticipatory message and preparing for Messiah with a baptism of repentance
It’s a bold message
Not weak like a reed in the wind
Not soft like a wealthy man
A message of preparation and repentance
John’s message brings greatness
John is the greatest of the prophets – because of his proximity to Jesus
Everuone who comes after him is greater – because of their proximity to Jesus
Response
Response
Jesus identifies two different ways people responded to this bold message
The people – knew Jesus was right because they had been baptized
The people – knew Jesus was right because they had been baptized
29 (All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John.
Their baptism was an expression of repentance
Their belief and obedience to John’s message of repentance did indeed prepare the way for Jesus
They had already acknowledged that they were unworthy (repentance) and needed a Messiah (anticipaiton)
The Pharisees and experts - rejected Jesus because they did not prepare for him through repentance
The Pharisees and experts - rejected Jesus because they did not prepare for him through repentance
30 But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)
The Pharisees and experts rejected John’s message of repentance and were therefore unready for Jesus’s kingdom
Implication
Implication
The starting point of receiving Jesus message is receiving John’s message
Repent
You are not okay.
Reject
Reject
31 Jesus went on to say, “To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:
“ ‘We played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not cry.’
33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ 35 But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”
Jesus expands on that rejection with the parable of the Brats
The meaning of this littler parable is clear though the interpretation is quite difficult
People of this generation – negative connotation in Luke describing those who oppose Jesus
Connects Jesus opponents with their ancestors who rebelled
Imagine a group of children
Playing wedding and funeral
Some of the children are unhappy no matter what game is played
Jesus and John offer complementary but contrasting deliveries of the same message
John – mourning and repentance
Jesus – celebration and joy
The pharisees don’t want either because they don’t want God
Conclusion
Conclusion
How will you respond to the message of Jesus?
Do you have questions? Ask them
Recognize that you must repent
Do not proudly and stubbornly press on in rebellion
