Signs and Truths

INTRODUCTION Advent is a season full of signs—candles, colors, Scriptures, traditions. Yet, even with all these signs, sometimes we still wonder:

“God, are You really at work here?” “Is joy still possible?” “Is Jesus really the One who brings hope in a world like ours?”

John the Baptist wondered the same thing.

John—who boldly cried out in the wilderness… John—who pointed to Jesus and said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”… Now sits in prison with a heart full of questions.

Even the strongest believers can feel uncertain.

I. John’s Honest Question: “Are You the One?”

John sends his disciples to ask Jesus directly. This is not faithlessness—it is faith seeking clarity.

Jesus does not shame John. Jesus does not rebuke him. Jesus simply says: “Look around. What do you see?”

The blind see. The deaf hear. The lame walk. The poor receive good news.

Jesus says, in essence: “John, the signs are already happening. Trust what you see.”

II. Isaiah’s Vision: Joy in the Wilderness

Isaiah speaks to a people exhausted by exile— yet he paints a picture of joy bursting forth in barren places:

The desert blooms. Weak hands are strengthened. Streams flow where there was only sand. A “Holy Way” is opened for God’s people.

Isaiah insists that joy is not the absence of hardship. Joy is God’s promise breaking through hardship.

Joy is God saying: “Where you see barrenness, I see a future.”

III. Recognizing the Signs Today

We still look for signs of Jesus. We still want to know if hope is real, if joy is possible, if God’s promises still hold.

And Jesus’ answer remains: “Look around.”

Look at the kindness shared. Look at the help offered. Look at the healing in unexpected places. Look at the community rising up in love. Look at the quiet courage of those who keep going.

These are the signs of His kingdom breaking in.

Joy is not a mood— it is recognition. It is seeing God at work even before everything is fixed.

IV. The Truth We Hold

The truth is this:

Jesus is the One. The signs point to Him.

His kingdom is already coming. And joy grows even in the wilderness.

John needed reassurance. So do we.

And Jesus meets us—not with scolding, but with signs… with compassion… with truth… with joy.

CONCLUSION

Advent joy is not fragile. It is not dependent on circumstances. It rises up like a green shoot from a stump, like a song in the night, like courage in a weary heart.

So today Jesus asks us:

“What do you see? What signs of My presence are already growing around you?”

May we be people who notice the signs— and become signs of joy for others.

Amen.

The Faithfulness of God: From Desolation to Celebration

Bible Passage: Isaiah 35:1–10, Matthew 11:2–11

Summary: These passages highlight the transformative power of God’s faithfulness, as they illustrate His ability to bring hope and redemption from despair.

Application: This sermon can encourage Christians who may feel overwhelmed by their circumstances, reminding them that God's promises are reliable and that He can turn their grief into joy, restoring their hope in the process.

Teaching: The teaching focuses on how God’s faithfulness manifests in both the prophetic assurances of Isaiah and the fulfillment of those promises through Jesus, highlighting the continuity of God's plan for redemption.

How this passage could point to Christ: In both passages, we see Jesus, the embodiment of God's faithfulness, fulfilling the messianic prophecies. He announces the arrival of the Kingdom of God, which includes healing and restoration, reaffirming the promises made in Isaiah.

Big Idea: God's unwavering faithfulness transforms our desolation into celebration, reminding us that He is always present in our struggles.

Recommended Study: As you prepare this sermon, you might want to explore the historical context of Isaiah's prophecies and compare them with Jesus' proclamations in Matthew. Use Logos to investigate the different interpretations of the term 'the least in the kingdom of heaven' in Matthew 11:11, and consider how various translations present this concept. This could provide deeper insights into the text, aiding in your application and storytelling.

1. Promises in the Parched Land

Isaiah 35:1-4

In these verses, perhaps you could illustrate how God’s promises to transform the wilderness into a blossoming land represent His unwavering faithfulness. Emphasizing the imagery of natural transformation can be powerful in suggesting how God can bring life and hope to even the most desolate situations. This connects to Christ's assurance in the New Testament that God is actively working for our good, encouraging believers to trust in His timing and provision.

2. Healing and Wholeness Promised

Isaiah 35:5-7

Maybe highlight how the physical healings and miraculous changes described foreshadow the healing ministry of Jesus. These verses can suggest a future where God’s kingdom, fully realized, restores not only physical ailments but the very fabric of creation. Encourage your listeners to see these acts of restoration as glimpses of what God intends for the world, reinforcing the message of hope and wholeness available through Christ, who fulfills these ancient promises.

3. Journey of Joy

Isaiah 35:8-10

You could illustrate the Highway of Holiness as a metaphor for Christ's invitation to walk in His ways, offering salvation and safe passage to eternal life. Perhaps emphasize the joy and singing of the redeemed, suggesting that this future promise begins now as we embrace the transformation Christ offers. Encourage believers to remain steadfast on this journey, reassured by God’s faithfulness as they anticipate ultimate redemption and joy.

4. Doubts and Divine Deeds

Matthew 11:2-6

These verses could be used to show John's questioning and Jesus’ response as a reminder of God’s faithfulness through actions and fulfillment of prophecy. Although doubt may arise, as it did for John, Jesus points us back to the evidence of transformation and healing. Maybe suggest that witnessing or recalling God's faithfulness in our lives can encourage us during times of uncertainty.

5. From Prophecy to Fulfillment

Matthew 11:7-11

In these verses, consider discussing Jesus’ affirmation of John’s role and how it centers on the transition from Old Testament prophecy to New Testament reality. Jesus identifies John as the greatest of the prophets while emphasizing the greatness available to all who participate in God’s kingdom now. Maybe emphasize how this illustrates God’s greater plan and the inclusion of believers in the unfolding of His promises through Christ.

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Introduction: When Joy Is Hard to See

Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ, our coming King.

This morning we stand at the third Sunday of Advent—the Sunday of Joy.

And yet Scripture greets us with a surprising companion: John the Baptist… in prison.

It doesn’t look like joy. It doesn’t sound like joy. And maybe that is exactly why we need this passage today.

In the midst of a storm, a sailor might feel fear and uncertainty, yet he presses on because he knows that calm seas come after the tempest. Joy often feels hidden beneath layers of challenges. However, it’s in these moments we can appreciate true joy. It’s not in the absence of pain but in the presence of hope that we find our deepest joy. This is the essence of our passage today: joy exists even when it doesn't seem like it.

There is a truth about Advent we often forget: Joy does not always begin in joyful places. Sometimes it begins in wilderness, in uncertainty, and even in doubt.

And yet—joy comes.

Because God is faithful.

Because God is working even when we cannot see it clearly.

Advent teaches us to look deeper. To look again. To notice the signs that God is already on the move.

I. John’s Honest Question: “Are You the One?”

John sends a message from a dark, lonely cell: “Are You the One who is to come, or should we look for another?”

This is the same John who leapt in Elizabeth’s womb… who baptized Jesus… who pointed to Him and declared, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

But even the strongest faith can tremble. Even prophets can have days when joy feels far away.

The great prophet Elijah once faced the powerful Jezebel after defeating the prophets of Baal. Despite his monumental victory, he fled in fear and hid, feeling utterly alone and despondent. Even the mightiest faith can tremble when confronted with life’s unexpected challenges. This reminds us that it's okay to feel overwhelmed; even those who stand strong for God have moments where joy seems distant, reminding us that we are all human, vulnerable, and in need of grace.

John’s question is not failure. It is faith seeking understanding. And Jesus doesn’t scold him. Jesus doesn’t shame him.

Jesus simply says: “Go and tell John what you hear and see…”

The blind see. The lame walk. The poor receive good news. Life is blooming where no life should bloom.

In other words: “John, the signs are already here. Trust them.”

II. Isaiah’s Promise: Joy in the Wilderness

The vision from Isaiah 35 is stunning:

The wilderness blossoms like crocus.

Weak hands are strengthened.

Feeble knees are made firm.

The burning sands become pools of water.

A “Holy Way” appears where there was once danger and confusion.

Isaiah is not painting a picture of heaven someday— he is proclaiming what God can do even now.

For Israel, this was a promise spoken into exile. For John, it was reassurance spoken into uncertainty. For us, it is hope spoken into whatever wilderness we face today.

Isaiah teaches a central Advent truth: Joy is not the absence of struggle—joy is God breaking into struggle. Joy is God transforming what once looked barren.

III. Recognizing the Signs (Even When the Signs Are Small)

Jesus tells John to look for signs—not spectacles. Not earthquakes. Not lightning bolts. Not thrones or crowns or political victories.

A man once asked me where he could find God in his chaotic life. He expected a grand revelation but instead shared how his daughter’s smile and his wife’s reassuring presence felt like God’s whispers of love. We often overlook these gentle nudges from the Lord while waiting for earthquakes or lightning. Yet, true signs are often quiet and subtle, waiting for us to recognize their significance.

Instead: Healing. Restoration. Good news. Changed lives. Compassion made visible.

Not destruction and cruelty

Not calling names and crushing humanity

In other words: The kingdom comes quietly… but unmistakably.

This is the same message you’ve been offering all month:

Isaiah’s signs

Matthew’s warnings

God’s call to faithfulness

The encouragement to stay awake, stay hopeful, stay ready

The signs are not always dramatic, but they are always faithful.

A mentor once told me that faith is like a roadmap with signs that guide us—each turn a reminder that we're not lost. It’s easy to be distracted by the flashy billboards of success that promise fulfillment. Instead, we need to focus on the small signs: a friend’s support, a moment of peace, or an answered prayer, or maybe

a grandparent praying quietly at night

a neighbor helping someone with groceries

a child offering kindness at school

a church showing hospitality

a discouraged heart finding the strength to keep going

These small, faithful signs remind us of God's presence and direction in our journey, leading us towards His ultimate purpose.

These, too, are Advent signs. They are small… but not insignificant. They whisper the truth:

Jesus is near. God is working. Joy is coming.

IV. When We Are Unsure Where God Is

Like John, we sometimes wonder:

“Is Jesus really the One who can heal this?” “Is joy possible in this season of my life?” “Is hope real with so much brokenness?” “God, are You really at work here—now?”

Jesus answers us the same way He answered John: “Look at what’s happening. Look again. Look deeper.”

Where forgiveness breaks through—Jesus is there. Where compassion replaces anger—Jesus is there. Where someone chooses love instead of fear—Jesus is there. Where courage rises in a weary soul—Jesus is there.

God’s signs rarely shout. But they always shine.

And even when we cannot feel joy, we can follow the signs toward joy.

John didn’t get the miracle he prayed for. He didn’t get released from prison. But he got something just as powerful:

He received the truth that his life was part of God’s unfolding plan. His testimony mattered. His faithfulness mattered. His voice mattered.

And Jesus called him the greatest prophet ever born.

V. The Truth That Holds Us

So what is the truth of Advent 3?

Not that life is easy— but that God is faithful.

Not that everything is fixed— but that God is at work.

Not that joy comes only when circumstances improve— but that joy comes because Jesus is the One.

We do not wait for “another.” We do not wait in vain. We wait for the One who is already moving in our midst.

And because Jesus is the One, our wilderness will blossom, our fears will be met with hope, and our questions will be met with grace.

Conclusion: Follow the Signs

Today Jesus asks us what He asked John:

“What do you see?”

Do you see signs of kindness? Do you see signs of healing? Do you see signs of perseverance? Do you see signs of hope?

Follow those signs— because they reveal the truth:

Jesus is the One, and joy is already here, growing even in the wilderness.

Thanks be to God. Amen.