John the Baptist: The Persecuted Prophet
Notes
Transcript
40 “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41 “He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 “And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.” 1 When Jesus had finished giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He departed from there to teach and preach in their cities. 2 Now when John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” 4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive 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 who does not take offense at Me.” 7 As these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 “But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ palaces! 9 “But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. 10 “This is the one about whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, Who will prepare Your way before You.’ 11 “Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force. 13 “For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 “And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come. 15 “He who has ears to hear, let him hear. 16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places, who call out to the other children, 17 and say, ‘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, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”
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Perhaps you’ve seen the TV show, “Let’s Make a Deal.” If you haven’t, it’s a game show where contestants are regularly presented with a decision. You might see the host present the contestant with a small sum of money to walk away or they can take a risk and see what’s behind door number 1. The host may open door number 1, but perhaps it’s not as glorious as it could be so he offers the contestant another decision. Keep what’s behind door number 1 and walk away or choose between doors number 2 and 3. There may be more. There may be nothing. In the end some walk away with grand prizes and some walk away with nothing. It’s a silly show, but it’s a little glimpse of humanity. How often are people presented with a humble package and asked, “Will you receive it?” In their desire for more, they say, “No” in pursuit of greater rewards only to walk away with nothing.
You might say the great question of our text this morning is just that, “Will you receive it?”
Through much of Matthew 10 Jesus is calling his disciples to a ministry in which they will present this gift - this proclamation of the gospel to Jews and ultimately to the Gentiles, and we get a picture of what that ministry looks like. It’s a hard road. It’s a costly road, but there’s reward in that humble ministry.
39 “He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.
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Those willing to lay aside the glories of life for the sake of Christ will find life itself. Those who repent of the glory they sought in their idols and turn to Jesus in faith and walk with Him, will be counted blessed!
The thing is these blessings comes in a rather humble package, and the question remains, “Will the world receive this gift?” Will they see its humble packaging and set it aside for the glories they hope to find behind door number 3.
The truth is there is no greater glory behind doors 1, 2, or 3. For all who reject the humble message of John, for all who reject the humble Savior that he pointed to - they will walk away with nothing.
The irony of our passage this morning is that John is in prison! To all the world it would appear he’s the one who walked away with nothing. In truth he’s considered the blessed one with all the prophets of old who were persecuted before Him.
You might remember what Jesus said in Matthew 5
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
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Hopefully by now we’ve seen how this assurance of blessing amidst such humble persecution applies in our own walks, but I want to focus today on how this blessing is extended to others.
Right in the middle of our passage is Jesus presenting this blessed prophet and his message to the crowd saying, “Will you receive it?”
14 “And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come. 15 “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
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If Jesus is willing to put forward the imprisoned John as the messenger to the people saying, “Listen to him.” I hope we wouldn’t hesitate to take on that same humility as we present the gospel to the nations. We don’t need to try to be glorious in the eyes of the world. We can be content with the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. God is glad to present the riches of His kingdom to the world using humble people like us.
The glorious gospel of Jesus Christ is presented to the world with the humility of Christ. For those who receive it, they will find a great reward!
The glorious gospel of Jesus Christ is presented to the world with the humility of Christ. For those who receive it, they will find a great reward!
A humble Savior
A humble prophet
A humble message
A humble ministry
A Humble Savior
A Humble Savior
In just a moment we’re going to get to John, but before we get to John we need to talk about Jesus. John’s ministry and sacrifice is pointless without Jesus which is why I want to start in verses 40 through 42 of chapter 10. It lays out a kind of foundational principle that’s built upon as we look to John.
Let’s see from the very beginning the explicit connections Jesus is making between the glory of God and the humility of His disciples.
40 “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.
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Three simple steps.
He who receives “You” [the disciples,]
, and he who receives “Me” [that is Christ]
receives “Him” [The Father.]
That by itself is an absolutely extraordinary statement. You might recall how Matthew presents this group of disciples. They’re the most ordinary of folks. Fishermen, tax collectors, those who are largely absent from the pages of Scripture. Galileans! Country folk. Those who receive these humble, ordinary disciples, receive God Himself through Jesus Christ. They will gain fellowship with the Creator of the universe, the sustainer and sovereign over all creation. The one who will judge the living and the dead. Receive these country folk. Listen to them.… receive God!
Remember the context here is fellowship. These disciples are literally knocking on the door looking for those who will welcome them into their homes. This reception isn’t just an intellectual agreement, it’s the reception of fellowship. Fellowship with God through Jesus Christ is received in the reception of the ministry of these humble men.
Jesus makes the same point again for emphasis only rather than moving up in 3 steps he moves down starting with the most revered of men.
41 “He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 “And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.”
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One might imagine that such fellowship or reward would come in the reception of someone like Moses - a prophet. After all he was the one who was in the presence of God on the mountain, but Jesus takes another step down. A righteous man. Surely the reception of a holy man would gain one the favor of the Lord - perhaps a priest. Dine with a priest and surely one would find a reward with God, but he goes further. He points to the 12 before Him - he calls them “these little ones”. You might say “these humble ones”. Whoever even gives them a cup of cold water, will find their reward before God.
Fellowship with God. Reward and blessing from God. Both are found in the reception of the message of Christ declared by these humble men who walk in the footsteps of their humble Savior.
As we pivot to look at John, we’re not really leaving this principle behind. Jesus is going to send out his disciples, but then present John to the people with the same reasoning. Will you receive Him? Will you receive His message? But it’s not about John at all. John didn’t preach about Himself. He came to prepare the way for Christ! To receive the message of John is to prepare one’s heart for the person of Jesus: the humble Savior who came to die.
Knowing this we shouldn’t be surprised to see John looking at Jesus in his darkest hour.
Jesus is teaching and preaching in the cities of Israel, but then he receives a message from John delivered by John’s disciples because John is in prison.
John asks, (vs.3) “Are you the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?”
Now for some of us, we might be quick to recognize weakness or unbelief in John. Such a question may come as a shock if that’s your first time reading this, but let’s put ourselves in John’s shoes for a moment. You’ve just been put in prison for calling everyone (even royalty) to repentance. You here Jesus is performing miracles, and what do you ask of him? I don’t know about you, but if my cousin were a miracle worker I’d ask him to get me out. Hey! Help a brother out.” But no. John is not concerned for his own well-being, he’s concerned about who Jesus is!
How many of us, look to God and say, “Get me out of here!” when we’d be better off with an honest and humble question, “Father, I don’t know you like I should. Show me who you are.” Is that our question of God in our darkest hour?
Let’s not be so quick to put ourselves in a different category than John. It’s the sincere question of a true and humble disciple. “Jesus, show me who you are for the sake of my faith.”
In response Jesus is more than glad to encourage John’s faith. He doesn’t rebuke him saying, “Where is your faith John?” He doesn’t move to deliver him from prison though he could have. He gives Him the hope of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 11:4-6
4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive 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 who does not take offense at Me.”
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Jesus is pointing to two passages in Isaiah, and if you go look at those two passages it’s almost impossible to not see John’s persecution in them. That is to say, Jesus isn’t speaking generally and simply proving He is the Messiah. He is saying that! That’s the overarching message of Isaiah, but he’s speaking directly to John. I believe he’s making this personal as if to say, “I am the Messiah and I am for you! You are not forsaken!”
4 Say to those with anxious heart, “Take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; The recompense of God will come, But He will save you.” 5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. 6 Then the lame will leap like a deer, And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy. For waters will break forth in the wilderness And streams in the Arabah.
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Furthermore,
1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners;
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Isaiah 61 is plain as day. Jesus is saying, I am the anointed one! The LORD God is upon me. I am the Messiah, but who has he come for?
If I were John, and you heard about all the works that Jesus was doing, I’d be tempted to think, “What about me?” Is Jesus for me? Is this the one who I .. can set my hope in. And then Jesus pulls from this passage!
The Messiah is the one who brings the good news to the afflicted; He’s come to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners.
I don’t know about you, but that’s going to hit home for me if I were John. Jesus knows my circumstances! Jesus knows my plight, and my suffering. He knows what I’ve endured for the sake of His name and He’s given me hope.
The thing is the hope given to John from these passages isn’t the hope that much of the world is looking for. John was not freed from prison that day, and yet Jesus gave him the hope of liberty and freedom to prisoners. Jesus did not offer him the glorious immediate deliverance that the world longs for. Jesus - the Messiah - this humble Savior offers liberty and freedom in life eternal. He offers salvation to those ready to die to themselves. He offers Himself to those willing to count themselves followers of this humble Savior. Willing to die. Willing to endure in faith clinging to great and glorious promises.
6 “And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.”
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When we go out into our every day lives we’re going to find people searching and longing for all that Jesus promises in these verses. Some have tasted injustice and long for vengeance. They long for recompense, they long for prosperity and the freedom from the curses of sin. They long to be free from the captivity and oppression of unjust men.
Let’s see in this that we don’t need to be ashamed to offer them a humble Savior. They may very well ask, What can your Jesus do for me today? How is Jesus going to get me out of my predicament? We don’t need to try to make Jesus more than He is. It’s impossible! Jesus is no less a great and glorious Savior because he did not deliver John that day. He offered John the greatest hope he could have ever imagined. We offer the world that same hope! A very real salvation. A very real freedom and liberty from the captivity of death. The matter is that such a gospel can truly be offensive to people. In spite of all that Jesus offers to provide - for many the package is simply too humble. The world wants its glory now and anything less simply isn’t good enough.
Let’s not believe that lie that Jesus is somehow lacking because his promises aren’t delivered in the timing that we would like. He’s our gracious and humble Savior. He’s the fullness of hope for all humanity, let’s offer Him as He offered Himself to the world - The one who came to serve - to walk with sinners - to wash feet - to die. Without that humility there is simply no salvation.
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At this response the disciples of John return to John and Jesus turns to the crowd and proceeds to put an imprisoned and persecuted prophet on a pedestal. He’s not someone to pity or ignore. He’s an example for all to see.
A Humble Prophet
A Humble Prophet
7 As these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 “But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ palaces! 9 “But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. 10 “This is the one about whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, Who will prepare Your way before You.’
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Notice where Jesus started his address to John’s disciples first. “Go and report to John what you hear and see.” He proceeds to quote Isaiah saying, the blind see, and the deaf hear. Now Jesus turns to the crowd and is going to address them with the same theme. What did you go out to see? Three times Jesus is going to ask the question. Later he will come to say, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
When Jesus is asking the crowd what they saw he’s using the word in the same way Isaiah used it. It’s not just a matter of open eyes, it’s a matter of spiritual illumination. The question is, “Will they remain in darkness and spiritual blindness or will they see what John was coming to accomplish?”
In a kind of poetic way, Jesus asks them what they came to see in the wilderness. It wasn’t to see plain things like a reed in the wind. It wasn’t to see man-made glory - “A man dressed in soft clothing?” No. They came to see a prophet. Maybe they didn’t realize it, but they did indeed come to see a prophet, but not just any ordinary prophet. Someone who came to prepare the way of the Lord.
Now if you were told a messenger was coming out of the wilderness preparing the way for the king of kings and lord of lords, what would you expect to see?
Perhaps an ambassador of some kind. At least a man of some power and influence. In the Jewish mind, perhaps a prophet like Moses who parts the Red Sea. Maybe a prophet like Elijah who calls down fire from heaven. Surely the Lord is worthy of a glorious entourage? A man of some renowned to go before Him to prepare the way.
Jesus says, John was that man. John in his camel hair and diet of locusts. He’s the ambassador. He’s the messenger. Did they see him for what he was? .. or was he too humble for them?
Even as Jesus quotes the prophet Micah, the command there is clear. “Behold!” ... “Look” “See!” This is the one.
Remember the crowd very likely is aware of John’s situation. At this point, I find it quite something for Jesus to be pulling out Micah saying, “Behold” while John is in prison. Is now really the best time for everyone to be looking at John? He’s become nothing… In the eyes of Christ that’s the exact moment everyone should be looking at Him.
In our day it’s not so uncommon to say behold, when looking at humble beginnings, but humble endings? That’s not so common. How many great stories and movies begin with the little boy in obscurity suffering scrutiny and oppression. “Behold” is normal in that sense because the invitation is to see what he’ll become, and sure enough this humble child turns into a glorious messiah. It’s its own kind of gospel for our day. Maybe I can be great even if I am in humiliating times today? Maybe tomorrow everyone will behold the success or the glory I’ve obtained. That’s the hope these stories give.
This “story” of John isn’t like that at all. This “Behold” isn’t at the beginning it’s at the end. And what do people see? A persecuted prophet. And though they may not see it, they’re looking at a faithful servant with a great reward.
As much as none of us are prophets, Jesus describes the work of discipleship and the reward of discipleship in parallel to the prophets of old. It’s right there in Matthew 5.
It may be appropriate for us to ask, should Christ bid the world to behold His church - behold His messengers - what do they see?
Do we try to present ourselves like the movies do? We may be humble now but just you wait, there’s going to be something to behold in no time. We try to keep up with the world’s desire and promise them something that Jesus never promised His messengers or his church.
Jesus is happy to call the world to look at His humble servants. We don’t need to justify it. We don’t need to provide people a hope for a greater future in this life. We give them Christ in the fellowship of His church. The Lord has indeed come into His temple. Do we believe that? Do we believe that the proclamation of Christ and the presence of Christ among His humble saints is enough?
If we are to be content with presenting a humble Savior, it's only right that we can be content to present ourselves as humble servants before the world. God is more than glad to present his most humble of servants before the world to see. Let’s not shy away from that humble appearance.
In addition to appearances (what this crowd is called to see), they’re also called to hear! John came with a humble message.
A Humble Message
A Humble Message
Here in these couple verses we catch a glimpse of 3 major themes in the book of Matthew. The King, His Kingdom, and His disciples. In beholding John the people are to recognize that a king is coming, but that also means a kingdom is coming. Jesus begins to define that kingdom using John as an example and then will point to the message of John in a moment to make the same point.
11 “Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
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2 simply striking statements back to back that are worth wrestling with!
If you want help following the argument here, I think it’s a bit of a tennis match if you will. The ball is going to be returned back and forth between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant for a few volleys. The Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of Heaven.
We start in the Old Covenant. Jesus is comparing John to all those born of women. That includes all the heroes of Jewish history. You can imagine the children growing up with all the stories and who there favorite Bible character was. Some may have picked David like many of our kids do today. David killed Goliath. Surely he was the greatest. Some may have picked Moses or Joshua. Joshua led the people of Israel in this great conquest of the Holy Land. You can go on and on and on. I’m willing to bet none of the kids on the playground are picking John the Baptist. “You mean the guy baptizing in the river?” ...
And yet, Jesus says, He was the greatest! What?? If that weren’t enough he doubles down on this. “Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” The ball starts in the Old and gets served across to the New, and what do we see? John’s message declares the coming of a kingdom in which even the least will be greater than him!
How many people do you know would be on board with a message like that? A message that when received makes others more important than ourselves.
We know John's confession well, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Jesus draws that out.
The nature of John’s message includes confessing that “The church must increase, but I must decrease.” Even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is.
The message of John and the message of the church is not simply a call to serve the Lord - making Him more important than ourselves - it’s a call to serve His church - making everyone more important than ourselves.
Not the most appealing message is it? Come be a part of a kingdom where everyone is more important than you are! Has a nice ring to it doesn’t it??
How many would gladly receive a gift wrapped with that label taped to the top? The thing is those who realize they need Jesus more than they need to served by men will gladly receive that gift! The crazy bit is those who deny such a gift don’t simply pass it by, they openly oppose it.
Jesus goes on and describes the kingdom of heaven. Here’s the return volley from New Covenant to Old.
12 “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force. 13 “For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John.
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Even as John is making others more important than Himself. Even as he’s laboring to prepare the hearts of men to receive the coming King, .. he’s making enemies. This message of John’s is humble for two reasons. It prioritizes other people before Himself, and it calls people to repentance.
As the kingdom of heaven is being established in the ministry of Christ and His disciples it’s being assaulted because it’s calling the kingdom of Israel to repentance! It’s doing what all the prophets of old have done since Moses delivered the law. And ever since Moses, the people of God have wanted such messengers to be silenced.
And ever since Moses, the people of God have faced the just punishment of God should they decide not to receive the Word of His prophet.
This is where things become really plain. Jesus ties it all together in one final volley from the old to the new.
14 “And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come. 15 “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
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Jesus is identifying John with the prophesy of Malachi at the end of his letter. A prophesy with a very specific message.
English Standard Version Chapter 4
5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”
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God Himself is coming to judge unless the people turn from their wickedness. John has preached it already, but now Jesus is affirming what has already been spoken.
10 “The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
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12 “His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
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If I could go back to that familiar narrative of the boy with humble beginnings destined for greatness - the problem this character has is almost always outside of himself. In contrast, the greatest message - the greatest gift of the gospel comes with packaging that says, “You’re the problem! Turn from your sin.”
When we go out into the world people are going to demand we do something about that guy over there. The news cycle day after day after day tells us to look at that guy over there and the awful thing he said or he did. People want a gospel that’s going to fix the “real” problem in this world. Them!
That’s the humbling thing about the gospel. It addresses us first. It calls us to repentance! As long as people have their eyes fixed on other people’s problems they’re unlikely to repent, and if they’re unlikely to repent they’re unlikely to consider others more important than themselves. As humbling as that message is, that’s the message we’re called to bring to the world.
Hopefully you can see the pattern here.
We don’t shy away from the humility of Christ in presenting the gift of the gospel. We serve a King who died!
We don’t shy away from a humble church in presenting the gospel. We are servants at the end of the day.
And we don’t shy away from the humble message of repentance. It prepares people to put their faith in Jesus and it prepares people to consider others more important than themselves.
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The close of our passage this morning is really the answer to our first question, “Will they receive it?” It’s in how this ministry of Christ and his messengers is received that we find a truly humble ministry.
A Humble Ministry
A Humble Ministry
16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places, who call out to the other children, 17 and say, ‘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, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”
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If this picture is a play scripted for the stage, the role of Jesus’ messengers is cast using children. I don’t think this is unintentional by Jesus, or just a convenient word picture. Jesus has started out this whole section by referring to his disciples as little ones in need of water. We shouldn’t be surprised to see it again here.
These children are trying to satisfy or entertain their companions. They play the flute but they’re not interested in dancing. Well maybe they’re sad, so they play a dirge, but that’s not it either.
Jesus gets to the point of this word picture and identifies John and Himself as if they’re in partnership ministering to the people. This persecuted prophet in prison with questions of doubt is a partner in ministry with Jesus, but they’re ministries did look different.
John came neither eating nor drinking. He came fasting just like Pharisees would and they still rejected him. They said, “He has a demon.”
The Lord Himself comes eating and drinking. He’s not fasting like the Pharisees. He’s a bridegroom preparing for a wedding with his groomsman. You can go to the wedding at Cana, and see the contrast between Jesus and John and yet recognize their cooperation. The point being the Pharisees rejected Jesus too. They called him a glutton and a drunkard - he eats with tax collectors and sinners!
Now we can look at the contrast between Jesus and John, but again the emphasis of this passage is “Will they receive it?” There’s clearly nothing wrong with John or Jesus’ ministry, there’s something wrong with those who hear. They have no ears to hear. There’s something wrong with those who see the character of these men, They cannot see it.
I was wrapping up my sermon yesterday at our dinner table and Rachel brings me this book from a sale she went to. The book is called, “The Seven Silly Eaters.” It’s a kids book that’s really written for the parents in my opinion. For those who haven’t read it, it’s about a mom with 7 children who each have their own picky preferences when it comes to food.
From the first born to the youngest mom is bending over backwards to satisfy all the preferences of 7 children.
There was nothing wrong with any of the food, it just wasn’t exactly what the children wanted.
You might call motherhood one of the humblest of ministries. You can do everything right, put perfectly wonderful food on the table and the kids can still find something wrong with it. You don’t have to be a mother to get a taste of that humble ministry however.
When we present a humble and dying Savior to the world,
When we present ourselves humble and less than glorious to the world,
When we present that humble call to repentance to those in the world
Though there is nothing wrong with any of it, and in that is the very path to eternal life, reconciliation with God, and a very real eternal glory with God in heaven - the world can and will find reason to turn up their noses and say, “Not good enough.” You’re too pious and legalistic! You’re too free and joyous. Like we all were as children. It’s too hot. It’s too cold.
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What are we to take away from this judgement Jesus is making?
In our day success is so often defined by ones following. How many people approve of your message, your ministry, your content. What Jesus says here should shake us loose from that expectation a bit. When Christ is central to our message sometimes there’s nothing we can do to satisfy the world. We shouldn’t presume that if we’re doing it right, the world will like us or follow us. When success is defined by our following the message changes. We change in order to advance our following. We start to hide that call to repentance in order to maintain that following.
If however success is defined by the proclamation of Christ, the character of Christ in us, the call of Christ to repent, then we can be content with a humble ministry.
We can even have hope in this humble ministry we’ve been given by our Savior.
Jesus gives those humble saints who may be in that crowd a glimpse of the hope ahead that will become more clear next week,
“Yet Wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”
The world looks at small and humble things - ordinary people with small followings - foolish.
Jesus calls this humble ministry wise!
A brief look at Proverbs and Ecclesiastes will show you the wise live for eternity. They do not seek their reward from what the world can give today. The wise live in the fear of the Lord knowing the Lord will provide in the end. In the end their actions will be proven right and true because in the end they will find their reward. They will be vindicated for their humble deeds.
For all of us here this morning, let’s embrace that humble ministry as our Savior did for the joy set before us!
Let’s pray.
Eric Mays
Mike and Susan Mills
Faithful ministry to this church that goes unseen
Faithful ministry to their families that go unseen
Confidence that their ministry is not without its reward.
