What are you looking for?

Intro

There’s a question that emerges from deep inside you.

It comes from the mounting fears, nagging doubts, and unsettling uncertainties.

It is the question asked when you can no longer pretend that things will work out nice & neatly.

ALL PEOPLE (Christians are no exception here) face this question at some point in our life, but there are few that actually are courageous enough to voice it to God.

It is the question that John the Baptist asked to Jesus in our text this morning:

Are you the One? Or should I look for another?

Are you the One or should I be looking somewhere else?

PAUSE

The cause of this question is abundantly clear: LIFE IS NOT FAIR!… Life is uneven… Life is unreasonable… quite frankly at times… Life just plain sucks.

The godly people suffer and the wicked prosper, and there’s no good explanation as to why.

So I ask… when life isn’t fair… what are you looking for in Jesus?

PAUSE

John the Baptist

John the B. was looking for the Messiah who brings justice.

His situation (prison, how he got there)

Its understandable why he asks the question.

His experience with Jesus (Matt 3:13-17)

Matthew 3:13–17 ESV

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

What He knows about the prophecy

Isaiah: Jesus says it but leaves out “those in captivity will be set free”

John doesn’t get why Jesus does all these acts but doesn’t release him or come to his aid.

“Jesus, Messiah, why am I suffering if you’re the One?”

Trasition: That is the same question we sometimes ask ourselves today when life isn’t rainbows and unicorns.

Us Today

Our situations - cancer, divorce, death, church hurt, divisions in the church, church decline, loss of job, financial struggles, etc.

“Jesus, if you’re the One, why am I suffering?”

What are we looking for in Jesus? (by asking this question)

Jesus of ease, comfort, prosperity?

Jesus of grace, sacrificial love, salvation?

Jesus says in v. 23:

Luke 7:23 ESV

And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

Blessed is the one who does not take offence at who I am and how I am working.

Jesus is saying to John - don’t take offence at me because you are in prison and waiting for your death sentence.

trust me… believe in who I say I am… have faith in me.

Jesus says to you - don’t take offence at me because I am not doing in your life what you think I should do.

trust me… believe in who I say I am… have faith in who I am

Brings me to the words of the Prophet Isaiah

Isaiah 55:8–9 ESV

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

PAUSE

John didn’t get to see the full picture of Jesus and His mission before he was beheaded and killed.

He didn’t get to see what Jesus was the One for

Jesus is saying to John in our text this morning that the deaf hear, the lame walk, the blind see, all because it is showing you the big picture of why I am here.

to resurrect people to new life.

He is telling John that He is with him in a far greater way than he can ever even imagine or comprehend. (revisit Isa 55)

Transition: Isa 55 is a good transition.

Jesus is the One

I have often wondered why this text is here during Advent

Explain this

But it is clear: The one to come by way of the miracle birth is the One all creation was groaning for, longing for, looking for… for a new life.

John looked for new life outside a prison cell

that would have been his old life

Jesus came for life far greater than that.

John would eventually receive new life after his death.

PAUSE

3. What are we looking for in Jesus?

not prosperity - it’s not guaranteed

not ease of life - that’s not guaranteed either

What are we looking for in Jesus?

Salvation!

Not a comfortable life because Jesus doesn’t promise that

What He DOES promise is new life… new life in him

life that IS eternal

We look for Jesus because of One thing:

Resurrection

it is crucial for our salvation!

Explain signif. of cross & rez.

His rising from death means your rising from death.

That is His promise… that is THE promise!

Resurrection to a new life in the ONE… in Jesus.

That is what’s enough to get you through the darkest valley in your life.

We trust… have faith in the One who delivers us

Christ went through the darkest valley (complete separation): complete abandonment & loneliness SO THAT:

He can be with us in our darkest valleys

so he can be with John in His.

Conclusion

Jesus promised 2 things (THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT)

I am the way , truth, life…

I am the resurrection & the life… (I am the one who saves you eternally)

2. Surely I am with you always until the very end of the age.

What are you looking for in Jesus?

Are you looking by sight (by what you see happening) or by faith in who He is?

Even though Jesus isn’t with us physically in human form today, His presence is with us as we live in the dark valleys of this life.

His presence is with us as we live in Advent waiting for His return when resurrection is made complete and His Kingdom (the one that John the B. envisioned) is fully established for all eternity.

PAUSE

Jesus doesn’t promise comfort or ease of living.

But what He does promise is far greater than anything we can possibly imagine.

Jesus promises Himself for you… All of Himself!

And by His great mercy and grace, He promises resurrection!

Salvation to new life in him through His body and His blood.

Our hope… our comfort… our peace… is found in Jesus Christ.

The One to come… where we need not look elsewhere.

I want to end this morning with the words from the Apostle Paul in Phil 4:4-7

Philippians 4:4–7 ESV

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Amen.