What Jesus Is Doing

Context

Last week: our reading was from Matthew chapter 2. John the Baptist came from the wilderness, preaching a message of repentance from sin, because the Messiah was about to arrive and bring with him the kingdom of God.

Just as John predicted, Jesus came on the scene and was confirmed by a great sign to be the expected Messiah.

But before John could witness Jesus’ ministry, John was arrested by the local ruler, Herod, who threw him in jail.

It seemed that John was held prisoner for some time, months at least, maybe a year or even more. We don’t know.

What we do know is that while John was in prison he heard about Jesus’ ministry — reports of preaching and teaching, healings, driving out demons, and even raising the dead.

Yet, it seems that Jesus’ ministry did not completely mesh with John’s expectations.

Our lesson today comes from Matthew chapter 11.

Reading

Matthew 11:2–11 “Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 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. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” 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? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, “ ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ 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.”

Introduction

No intro example for this sermon.

EXEGESIS 1: John experiences doubt

John had preached that a mighty Messiah was on the way, “the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”

Then, just when the Christ did appear, John was thrown in prison. Not for a crime. But for preaching God’s word that even King Herod himself must repent of sin.

As John languished, waiting for death, he wondered. Where is the Kingdom that Jesus is supposed to bring.

John, based on prophetic writings, expected the Christ to redeem the righteous and cast down the wicked in one fell swoop.

To John, the Good news was that the righteous would be saved BECAUSE the wicked would be destroyed.

Isaiah 61:2 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me (the christ)…to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; …

BUT so far in Jesus’ ministry no vengeance had been shown — instead, John himself, one dedicated to the service of God, was unjustly held prisoner, cold, hungry, chained, by an obstinate sinner.

So John is confused. He hears what the Christ is doing (Matt. 11:2)…but there is one thing Jesus is not doing…he is NOT destroying the wicked.

So, John sends his disciples to Jesus with a question. Are you the one who is to come? Or, shall we look for another?

I have known and believed you are the Christ, I am not wrong, am I?

I have pointed other toward you…I am not wrong, am I?

APPLICATION 1: Open ourselves up to present moment encounter

As we draw near to Christmas we hear a wonderful message: Jesus the Christ has come into the world. Peace on earth, joy to the world!

Yet, we look around our world and see that there is a conspicuous lack of joy, peace.

We are like John in the prison. Expectations and reality don’t seem to match up.

And we wonder, What is Jesus doing? Where is the relief? Where is the Kingdom?

Not an indication of a weak faith. A genuine expression of faith.

Faith crying out for understanding and perspective.

We send our messenger to Jesus. Our messengers are our prayers.

Jesus, my faith is straining. I believe. I have believed…but, I’m not wrong, am I?

I have pointed others to you…I’m not wrong, am I?

EXEGESIS 2: Jesus encourages John’s faith

So John’s disciples go to Jesus with John’s question.

They find Jesus with his own disciples and with the crowds, teaching and preaching, as was his custom.

They present John’s question to Jesus: Are you the one?

Jesus does not offer a simple Yes or No answer to this question.

He does not say No, of course. For he is the expected one.

Yet he does not simply say Yes, either.

That answer would not really satisfy the depth of John’s question. It would not address the reason why John had to ask the question to begin with.

the disciples go back to John. John says…Is he the one is to come? What did he say? They reply: he said, Yes.

There would still be the lingering question — well then, why isn’t he bringing the kingdom?

Jesus knows John is asking a deep question and needs a deep answer. So, Jesus gives an answer that ties into the prophetic tradition that both he and John were steeped in.

He says to John’s disciples, go tell John what you see and hear.

Then he refers to the miracles that he has performed.

Matthew 11:5 “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.”

The way Jesus’ summarizes his ministry, would have triggered in John’s mind the words of Isaiah the ancient prophet, who wrote of the Christ:

Isaiah 61:1–2 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; …blessed are those who are not offended by me.”

John would have recognized the cadence of Jesus’ reply.

AND he would have noticed that Jesus makes a subtle alteration to Isaiah’s words. Jesus does NOT mention “the day of vengeance of our God.” Instead he says, “blessed is the one who is not offended at me.”

“I proclaim the Lord’s favor…and blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

Jesus leaves off the note of vengeance and instead inserts another theme from Isaiah’s prophecy.

Isaiah spoke of a man acquainted with sorrows, who would bear the sins of many, who would be rejected…and through self-sacrifice rescue his people from divine judgment. (Isaiah 53)

Jesus was combining the Triumphant Messiah and the Suffering Christ into one person — himself.

Jesus offers an answer to John that was more than a Yes. It was a Yes, and an explanation and a call to faith!

Jesus says to John: I am the Expected One, just as Isaiah foretold,…in his whole prophecy: first the Messiah will suffer…then the kingdom will come.

Implication: You are the Messenger, imprisoned though you are!

I believe when John’s disciples went back to John with Jesus’ answer, John would have been filled with renewed faith. Only the one sent from God would interpret prophecy so profoundly.

APPLICATION 2: What Christ is really doing

At Christmas we proclaim: Christ has come into the world.

Central idea of the Christmas miracle is that the Son of God, having come into the world,

did NOT suddenly change the world.

He did not suddenly judge the wicked with vengeance!

He did not instantly depose the powers of the world and institute the Kingdom of God.

No. Rather, he refrained from these things on purpose.

He came with forbearance so that a sinful world could have an opportunity for forgiveness.

If on that first Christmas — in his first coming — Jesus swept away all sinners, where would we be, all of us who have fallen short of the glory of God?

If Christ came on Christmas in judgment: There would have been no Christmas, just the end of the world.

Like in the days of Noah when God wiped the world clean of evil. But God promised not to judge through destruction again.

Instead, Jesus comes into the world and proclaims not vengeance, but God’s favor. An OPPORTUNITY.

His coming in humility means we, and everyone in the world, has a chance to hear his word, a chance at forgiveness and healing and so we can become ready for the kingdom when he comes a second time and does bring the kingdom in full glory.

Rather than being offended at what Christ is not doing - destroying evil - we are to we are to be encouraged, as difficult as our situation may be, for we have time to make ready!

We are looking for the one who gives us a chance to enter the kingdom and that is exactly who Christ is!

EXEGESIS 3: Jesus encourages the crowds to believe

When John’s disciples depart, Jesus turns to the crowds.

Perhaps they were worried to hear that John the Baptist seemed to be doubting whether Jesus was the Christ.

He says to them: What did you go out to see?

Reed shaken by the wind: someone flimsy

Someone dressed in soft robes: Someone afraid of suffering?

No: When you listened to him, you heard a true prophet: more than a prophet! For he is indeed the “one who goes before” the Messiah.

Jesus quotes prophecy to them: Malachi 3:1 ““Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way …”

Jesus’ point is that they must listen to John’s testimony about Jesus and not doubt that John pointed them to Jesus.

Though they did not understand the message Jesus sent to John, they had a great opportunity before them.

Jesus says to them, No one is greater than John, yet even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John.

For they were with Jesus. They would get to see his whole ministry unfold: they see him suffer and die on the cross. They would see and learn of his resurrection from the dead.

They would get to see him fulfill ALL the promises of God — that God would send a Savior and a King. Who would bring a kingdom greater than just to depose Herod or any earthly ruler or power structure.

They would see the power of death itself broken.

They would get to see that which John would have to accept by faith while in prison.

That Jesus will bring the kingdom a kingdom of resurrection from the dead, and all evil and sin and death is left behind.

John would be in that kingdom…and so could they!

Even if you are the least in this faith, you have been given a gift greater than even John has received. Be grateful for it and receive it.

APPLICATION 3: We are affirmed to see our status in the Kingdom of God

Like the crowds of old we have been given a gift, one that John the Baptist would rejoice to have received: a fuller view of Jesus’s ministry.

We get to see that before Jesus ever judges the world he offers it salvation through himself.

Advent time is a to realize that we are on the verge of the amazing miracle. Not just Jesus’ birth, but also his death and resurrection.

The Christ who comes at Christmas is the same Christ who we will see die and rise again in Easter, months from now.

Advent means coming. Advent is a starting point.

This is the time realize that the gospel is commencing and we are invited into it. That is, we are invited to walk with Jesus through his whole ministry to see the length to which he goes to save us.

Year ahead: Jesus will be with us. Teaching us about himself and preparing us for his kingdom.

Our prayer should be: Christ, you have come into the world, come into my heart. I am not asking you to judge the whole world I am asking you to fix me. Save me save us all. Let me be even the least in the kingdom of heaven.

In that humble and grateful spirit, we will carry on John’s ministry of preparing the way for Christ.

Conclusion

In conclusion, let us not be allow our faith to be diminished by what we fear Christ is not doing, but rather let us rejoice in what Christ is doing.

What is Christ doing this advent? He is bringing forgiveness. He is offering life. He is calling us to have faith. He is offering an opportunity.