Luke 7:18-35 - ARE YOU THE ONE

Good morning church.

So how's that has Jude mentioned? This is my first day ever preaching at West London. Not my first time now, I've got no ice breakers or jokes to start off with but other than to say that in full transparency. I actually brought three cards up here that I prepared for myself here. They are here we go. Don't say um,

stop rocking And slow down 10 to get excited when I talk. Can say that I'm going to successfully accomplish any of those this morning, but at least now, you know, I've tried for those of you who are wondering who I am. My name is Raymond. Jordan is Jude men. Should my wife and I Carolyn my wife Carolyn and I have been attending West London for 18 years. I should mention that I've served on the board for the last four. We also have a beautiful daughter name Adelaide who has just entered the junior high Ministry so you can surely be praying for us on that front. I just want to start by saying a huge. Thank you for everyone that was praying for us a few of us will we travel to India a couple of weeks ago your prayers were truly felt both in India and back home as we travel to visit various orphans and widows that we support through another organization that we set up a number of years back. So again, just a huge. Thank you for those prayers. As we continue along in the Gospel of Luke this morning, we find ourselves in Luke chapter 7 verses 18 to 35. So if you have your Bibles with you today. We're going to be spending our time. This morning's sermon title comes in the form of a of an intriguing question. That was asked of Jesus. Are you the one or shall we look for another? When Jude sent a message to the elders last October with the Sunday schedule this particular message caught my attention because to me the answers seem so plainly obvious, but it's only obvious if we're willing to pick up a Bibles and get into the scripture in the same way that the bereans did and Acts chapter 17 to see if what was actually written about Jesus is true in Acts chapter 17 verses 11 and 12. We read the bereans examined scripture with all eagerness and therefore many of them believe today. Let us examine the scriptures in the same way with the same eagerness that we might understand the word of God and what it means for our lives in this particular passage actually fits nicely into three sections. So instead of reading it all at once we're going to break it up into three segments and will read it as it goes along. First we're going to look at an encounter between Jesus and the Disciples of John the Baptist and then secondly, we're going to dig into a conversation between Jesus and the crowds and then finally we're going to get a get into Jesus's words as he exposes the unreasonableness of unbelief. And on that note. Would you join me in a word of Prayer?

Gracious God Holy Spirit. We just we thank you for blessing us with your presence today Lord. You are amazing. You are glorious. We can do nothing on our own. Would you fill our hearts fill our minds today with your war with your Holy Spirit? Cause us to see who you are through your living breathing word the name of Jesus Amen.

Last week we were blessed to have the opportunity to hear from Pastor Rick Walton and at the end of his sermon. He said something that really struck a chord with me. Rick said this he said we need to have certainty as to who Jesus is and what he can do. My hope this morning is to do exactly that as we continue along in the Gospel of Luke. So let's get started. We begin today in Luke chapter 7 versus versus 18th earlier in the chapter. Jesus had just finished healing a centurion servant and last week as we heard from Rick. He raised the Widow's son from the dead. So then we get to verse 18 and feel free to follow along in your Bibles or the screen behind me. The Disciples of John reported all of these things to him and John calling to disciples two of his disciples to him sent them to the Lord saying are you the one who is to come or shall we look for another and when the medic come to him? They said John the Baptist has sent us to you saying are you the one who has to come or shall we look for another in that our he healed many people diseases and play sand evil spirits and on many who who were blind. He bestowed site and he answered them go and tell John what you have seen and heard the blind receive sight the lame walk lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear the dead are raised up the poor have good news priest of them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me. I want to start today by bringing this passage into context in verses 18 and 19 weed understand that John is stuck in prison under the guard of Herod a far cry from where we found them at the beginning of his ministry. I remember the first time I read this text. I thought to myself with John having second doubts about Jesus was he was he really having second doubts had the fact that he was stuck in prison cost in the second guess whether or not Jesus was the Messiah. Similarly how many of us here today when things don't go right for us easily find ourselves calling got a question. If you are really for me, why do I find this myself of the situation right now? And I think for John it's somewhat of a fair question, especially when we consider two key factors firstly when we look at the Old Testament, the Jews had assumed that the Messiah was going to be a conquering King that was going to come and restore political power to the Jews. They completely misinterpreted scripture and secondly up to this point. Jesus himself had not publicly declared that he was the Christ but the fact of the matter is there's nothing scripturally in the Bible that ever points. Did John having dos that Jesus was the Messiah. In fact in Luke chapter 3 read that John already knew that he was the prophet appointed to introduce Jesus into the world. In John 1:29. He himself confirms Jesus as the Messiah we read the next day. He John saw Jesus coming toward him and said Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. This is he of whom I said after me comes a man who ranks before me because he was before me I myself did not know him. But for this purpose I came baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel or witness. I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove and it remained on him. I myself did not know him but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me he on whom you see the spirit descended remain this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and I have seen and have borne witness that this is the son of God. So any inclination that we had in Luke 7:17 that John had any doubts about Jesus being the Messiah are completely Squad by John's first person testimony here. Then why did John say what he did? Why do we find him sending his disciples to visit Jesus to ask him if he is the savior of the world or if they should expect another let's put this into context for a moment. Imagine. You're one of John's disciples, which means you're a devout Jew that is awaiting the coming Messiah your understanding based on what other Jews told you is that combined with your own interpretations of scripture is that the Messiah is supposed to come as a temporal print will ultimately bring the Romans down. Again, that's your understanding but your jaw is disciple and John is telling you that Jesus is the Messiah but nothing that John is saying is matching up with what you understand to be said about the coming Messiah. You're conflicted you have doubts.

Let me pause here and ask you a question. For those of you that are Christians has being a Christian been everything that you have expected it to be. When you look at the blessings of God in your life cuz they lined up with scripture or have they fallen short. We're going to come back to that question few moments, but getting back to the past year in front of us. If you were John in this situation, what do you do John likely has one last opportunity to assure his disciples that everything that he told them about. Jesus wouldn't be true that Jesus is and was the Son of God the true Messiah.

So what are you do? I'll tell you what you do. You do exactly what John did you prove it and you prove it by sending your disciples so that they can ask Jesus the burning question that is on their minds. Are you the one are you the Messiah? Are you the Son of God or should we expect someone else John knew that the second that his disciples encountered Jesus there would be no doubt in their minds as to who Jesus was. I find it intriguing that when John entered the world and it began his ministry into the world. It was to acquaint people with price as we see him in his in his last days here to conclude his ministry. He did it by acquainting people with Christ. He never wavered in fulfilling the mission that got him on and we should take note of that. There is nothing more urgent in this world than equating people to Christ before we die. And before they die.

We then find ourselves verse 21 and honestly hear us when we get to the fun part. I get excited just thinking about this. I mean just visualize this if you will John disciples, I'm sure of how Jesus would respond and likely unsure of Jesus himself come to Jesus and ask him plainly if he is the Messiah or not. And how does Jesus respond when I read the next sentence in verse 21, there are two words that come to my mind since those words are watch this literally watch this. Is anyone here today ever had one of those watch this moments watch this moment usually end badly any time that I've ever been a part of them for those of you unfamiliar with what a watch this moment might be it's when you think you have the ability to do something but when you actually try and do it, maybe ski down a steep hill or or jump over a tall object you fail miserably usually resulting in injury yourself, but in the case of Jesus his watch this moment is nothing short of spectacular. Let's start with the first three words in verse 21, because to me absolutely mind-numbing. Here they are in that hour. What do you personally think that you could accomplish in an hour? I mean if I said to you if you have one hour to blow my mind with a watch this moment. What do you personally think that you could accomplish? Let me tell you what Jesus accomplished. In that very hour Jesus heals not one, but many people have diseases in Flags. Think about that for a second. We all get excited when we read about Jesus healing the paralytic that was lowered to the roof and Luke Chapter 5 or the single woman's fate who was completely changed when she touched Jesus garment and Luke chapter 8 here. We have Jesus and we're only in Luke chapter 7 and he's healing many people of diseases in Flags. But that's not enough because what would a watch this moment be with a casting of evil spirits and restoring the sight of many blind people. I would I would say that if we were to go back in the recorded history that ranked pretty highly on the scale of mind-blowing hours at this planet has ever seen. Voltaren was imprisoning people and taking life away. Jesus would liberating people and restoring life to them.

Still not enough don't worry. Jesus is just getting started in verse 22 after this hour of pure jaw-dropping power. He says this he says go and tell John what you have seen and heard the blind receive sight. The lame walk lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear the dead are raised up and the poor have good news priests in them. Do your insides notches tingle when you hear that in my world, we call it a mic drop that my friends is our Lord and savior. And then and then after absolutely glorious Display of Power we get to verse 23 and Jesus Pierce's their souls with these words. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.

Friends, we need to understand that Christ was in Christ is today a stumbling block to many the Gospel of Jesus Christ is offencive declares that we humankind are wretched guilty Sinners and nothing in this world can stop us from spending an eternity in Hell except for declaring Jesus as our Lord and savior. This is the same Jesus who hung on a cross with nail pierced hands to pay it pay a ransom that we all deserve. This is the same Jesus who healed the sick Open the Eyes of the blind raise people from the dead cause of death caused the death of here made the lame walk and a Matthew 18 declares that unless you become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. This is the same Jesus who spends his days with lowly people Tax Collectors prostitute. This is the same Jesus who in John 14:6 announces that he alone is the only way to come to God.

Pause there for a moment and just realize just realize how offencive that statement is. The people Jesus declares that he alone is the only way to come to God.

Therefore it's impossible to say I believe in Jesus, but they and your next breath say but I think there's other ways to get to heaven because to do so would be to actually claim Jesus as a liar. Jesus is declaring that there's no other way. No other religion. No other reality Hinduism will not save you Islam will not save you Buddhism will not save you but I will not save you Judaism will not save you being a month will not save you sitting around and ignoring reality will not save you not even calling yourself a Christian will save you only a true honest faith in Jesus Christ will save you That my friends is offencive.

For those of us who believe the gospel is a fragrance of life. But for those who don't believe it's the aroma of death 2nd Corinthians 2:15 to 16 blessed is the one who is not offended by me.

As we move the next 7 versus In this passage there. They're absolutely beautiful for a lot of reasons. Jesus not only comes the defense of John but declares that he was more than just a prophet. Let's read Luke 7:24 229 together. When the messages when John's messages are gone Jesus began to speak to the crowd concerning John. What did you go into the Wilderness to see a reed shaken by the wind what then did you go to see a man dress and soft clothing behold those who are dressed and Splendid clothing and live in luxury. What then did you go to see a profit? Yes. I tell you are more than a profit. This is He Who Am I who am it is written behold. I send my messenger before your face who will prepare your way before you I tell you among those Board of women. None is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he and when all the people heard this from tax collectors to the declared. Just haven't been baptized with the baptism of John.

What's think about this for a moment at the beginning of John's Ministry John was the most popular preacher in the land people are coming from all over Judea and Jerusalem to hear God's word and be baptized. Now John finds himself by worldly standards at an absolute low point in his life. He stuck in prison under the guard of Herod to the people that Jesus was speaking to John was not a man that they wanted to Aspire to but as we read verses 24 229th, Jesus declares that among those born of women. None is greater than John. The man in captivity who is about to die is held by Jesus as rate and thinking back to his previous words and verse 23 blessed is the one who is not offended by me. John was not offended by Jesus just like we should not be offended by Jesus. The statement and verses 24 to 29 should also be a great comfort for all believers who are falsely accused falsely accused slandered persecuted or suffer for the sake of the God. Jesus is simply affirming hear what he already said in Matthew 5:10 when he says blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

We should be very much aware that the lack of the worlds affirmation or the position we find ourselves in whether Health crisis financial crisis or any other crisis. Is no proof that God is not pleased with us, but it is not by your side. Blessed are the persecuted blessed is the one who is not offended by me blessed. Are you when people insult you blessed are those who mourn? I want it again pause here for a moment earlier. I asked you to question for those of you that are Christians as being a Christian than everything that you expected it to be. When we think of the word blessed are those that the first words that come to mind. persecution offended insults Morning. What do we expect of God in our our expectations biblical often times when I hear about people talking about using the word blessed especially in Western culture? There's usually a direct or indirect reference of some sort of material possessions or some sort of prosperity or living in Comfort. But is that what the Bible implies by the word blessed? I recently read an article on Desiring God by vaneetha Risner the highlighted the fact the New Testament contains 112 references to the word blessed blessing or bless. Just how many of those 112 references have any sort of connection to material prosperity. the answer 0 blessed are the poor in spirit blessed are those who mourn blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you blessed rather are those that hear the word of God and keep it for many of us. We need to rethink how we use this word blessed as a relates to being a follower of Jesus. Let's examine the scripture in the same with the bereans did with all eagerness to make sure that our lives line up with God's word. Now if there's there's lots more that we can discuss in verses 28 and 29, but for the sake of time, I want to move on to the final section of this passage because it's really important in contact with the rest of what I want to talk with you about today as we continue along and verse 32 Spike Jesus showing that he truly was the savior of the world and he was the only way to the Father the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected and push shut the door of Salvation that was being offered to them by John's preaching they denied the counsel of God verse 30 reads, but the Pharisees in the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves having not been baptized by John. Jesus says to them in John 5:39 you search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life and it is day the scripture the bear witness about me Jesus friends. Do you not understand how plainly God has made himself clear to us through his son Jesus Christ all the truths that we read about in the New Testament are merely fulfillment of Prophecy that are written hundreds of years before Jesus ever walked this Earth. This isn't some sort of fictional children story that someone made up this is the living document his documented historical account of God. Let me just put this in perspective for you. So in my hand right here, I have a sealed envelope. I want you to imagine for a moment that inside the sealed envelope contains documents that were written 750 years ago and sealed by its author. Written on the pages inside this envelope are 400 predictions about you the place you be born everything you would accomplish who would friends you could betray you even the kind of death you would die perfectly accurate. impossible rate the Old Testament of our Bible contains over 400 prophecies about the coming Messiah. What do you think? The mathematical odds would be? of one man fulfilling every single Prophecy in the Old Testament a professor named Peter Stoner work with over 600 students to try and figure out what the probability would be of just eight suggest just eight of the over 400 prophecies being fulfilled about any one person who had lived up to the present time. the result 1 in 100 quadrillion, that's 115 zeros. And that's just the mathematical odds of only eight of them coming true. Jesus fulfilled over 400 Lee Strobel an atheist turned Christian performs a calculation to try and figure out what this might look like in real life here is Whatley notes he says, I imagine the entire world being covered with white tile that was one and a half inch square. Every bit of dry land in the planet with the bottom of one tile painted red, then I pictured a person being allowed to wander for a lifetime around all seven continents. He will be permitted to bend down only one time and pick up a piece of tile. What are the odds it would be the one tile who's reverse side with painted red the odds of be the same as just eight of the Old Testament prophecies coming true about one person throughout history. How's that for putting things in perspective? A number of years back. I spent some time compiling a number of these Old Testament prophecies and the New Testament fulfillment. If you're interested on the front of your bulletin at the bottom or the screen behind me, you'll find a website link where you can go in and browse these at your own leisure.

Hundreds of years before Christ was even born we read in the Old Testament Prophecies of the Messiah will be a descendant of King David born of a virgin in Bethlehem. He would grow up in poverty. He would heal the sick Open the Eyes of the blind entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey and be betrayed by a cross a close friend the prophet Zechariah even notice the amount of money that Jesus would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver. Can you be denied by his disciples pierced for our transgressions crushed for our iniquities LED like a lamb before the slaughter get he would not even open up his mouth Cuba Cuban doll and vinegar to drink he would die in a brutal wake but not one of his bones will be broken his clothes and be divided It cast launch for his garments. And then finally after he was dead the three pieces of silver that they used to betray him would be used to buy a Potter's field. These are all prophecies in the Old Testament. Hundreds of years later we read in the New Testament every single one of these prophecies fulfilled by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

French you cannot make this stuff up. There are over 400 these prophecies in the Old Testament and Jesus Christ perfectly fulfilled every single one of them as our late Pastor. Mike Wilkins used to say it takes far more faith to be an atheist than it does to be a Christian just because you don't like something that the Bible says doesn't make it any less true just because a person understand why God allows or doesn't allow certain things to happen doesn't make it any less true. If I say to you that 10 + 10 equals 20 and your response back to me is well, I don't like that answer or I disagree. I don't really know what else to tell you the fact of the matter is that every person that hears the gospel is given an opportunity to either believe in Jesus or not. It's a foundational truth of scripture. If we bring ourselves to Everlasting destruction, we will have no one to blame but ourselves the Bible makes this clear. I have no pleasure in the death of anyone declares the Lord God, so turn and live.

As we conclude our reading in Luke 7:31 235 Jesus goes on to expose the unreasonableness of unbelief. Let's read this together.

To What then shall I compare the people of this generation and what are they like, they're like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another we played the flute for you and you did not dance we sang a dirge for you and you did not weep for John. The Baptist is come eating no bread and drinking no wine. And you say he has a demon the son of man has come eating and drinking and you say look at him a friend of of a glutton the drunkard a friend of tax collectors and sinners get wisdom is justified by her children. Nothing will satisfy the hearts of people whatever work God does whatever people God sends whatever Miracles God performed. The world will take exception to it all. Jesus goes on to say in John 15 Verse 18 He says if the world hates you keep in mind that it hated me first.

And here we find ourselves in the year 2019 on the same reality exist today. There is not even stay amongst Christians as Romans 8 7 to 8 says the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God. What does not submit to God's law indita cannot those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Mankind will always find ways and reasons and excuses as to why not to believe in or a big God on the contrary. We as Christians mustn't take offense at the gospel. Let the world say what it will if you're a Christian here today, you need to remember that the only difference between you and an unbeliever is that God has shown you grace and mercy by revealing himself to you. We can do nothing on our own and we would do well to keep that in perspective.

Universe 35 Jesus closes His Thoughts by saying that despite all of this wisdom is justified by her children, simply put the wisdom of God is acknowledged and accepted by those who are God's children. Despite what the world says around them. They accept God's living breathing word for what it says and therefore prove themselves to be wise 2nd Timothy 3 1415 oats. Price for you continue in what you have learned in a firmly believe knowing from what going from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writing what you're able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

As much as the world despises you and the wisdom of God none of that matters because you are being made wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. If we are truly wise then we will not be ashamed to talk to people about Jesus despite would have might cost us. What is the clear with boldness and confidence that we approve of God's word and everything that it says?

In closing we we started today with a question question. Was this Jesus? Are you the one or should we look for another? The Bible clearly give us our answer. Not only is he the one he's the only one Philippians 2:9 to 11 says that God has highly exalted Jesus and bestowed on him the name that is above every name so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on Earth and under the Earth and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father. We will likely find that there are few people for us and many people against us. We may be laughed at persecuted slandered and offended but let us not be offended a Jesus as we just right there is an hour coming when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord Elena not in in that our the ones who have declared Jesus as our Lord and savior, and we're not offended by him will be justified by the father and his angels.

If you're sitting in this room today.

and you

and you haven't declared Jesus as your lord and savior. What are you waiting for? I plead with you. Do not roam the Earth for your entire lifetime looking at the flip that one red tile. It's already been accounted for and his name is Jesus the predictions in that sealed envelope. They've already been fulfilled. His name is Jesus. If your reservation about becoming a Christian is because it is that you think that you're not good enough or that got us keeping score. You just need to wipe that from your mind right now.

Our God is a god of Grace. You can't earn your way into heaven and you can turn your way out of Heaven to the adulterous woman in John chapter 8 who the scribes and Pharisees wanted to Stone. Jesus says neither do I condemn you go and from now on sin? No more to the tax collectors. Jesus dies with him and says, I have not come to call the righteous but sinners. If you have questions about who Jesus is just ask him. He's compassionate. He's kind he's loving. Romans 10 says if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved for with the heart One Believes and is Justified and with the most one confesses and is saved for the scripture says everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Don't leave today without calling on the name of the Lord. May we turn our Eyes Upon Jesus the author and Perfecter of our faith. Let's pray.

Holy Spirit, we we thank you for your presence today. Lord would you continue to work in our hearts and our minds to show us who you are Lord, you are loving you are compassionate. You have shown his Mercy that we don't deserve yet. You giving it to us. Anyways, all we need to do is call upon you Lord. Lord I pray as we leave this place that you would just continue to use us For Your Glory for your will in the name of Jesus Amen.