Have you had an injustice commited against you and either the law seemed to take a long time to bring justice or you never recieved justice?

Aaron hit my truck story -

Life can get very frustrating when justice is postponed or delayed.

Today we are going to talk about

How to Respond When Justice Is Slow.

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We will be looking at the story of when John the Baptist doubted Jesus as the Messiah or at the very least questioned it.

Now keep this in mind:

John was the cousin of Jesus

John Baptized Jesus

John recognized Jesus as the Messiah at Jesus’ baptism.

John told Jesus that he (John) should be baptized by Jesus, rather than Jesus being baptized by him.

John believed he was the forerunner of the coming Messiah.

John is in prison for calling out king Herod for all of his sins including his sexual sins.

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Matthew 11:1–6 NLT

When Jesus had finished giving these instructions to his twelve disciples, he went out to teach and preach in towns throughout the region. John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen—the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” And he added, “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.”

Matthew 11:1-

Ouch - This is John the Baptist doubting or questioning Jesus as Messiah.

And then look at what Jesus says at the end. “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.”

Jesus is challenging John’s doubt!

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So what is the deal? Why is John questioning Jesus as the Messiah?

John has an idea of the Messiah in his mind and is likely thinking of

Mal 3:1-

Malachi 3:1–5 NLT

“Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “But who will be able to endure it when he comes? Who will be able to stand and face him when he appears? For he will be like a blazing fire that refines metal, or like a strong soap that bleaches clothes. He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the Lord. Then once more the Lord will accept the offerings brought to him by the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as he did in the past. “At that time I will put you on trial. I am eager to witness against all sorcerers and adulterers and liars. I will speak against those who cheat employees of their wages, who oppress widows and orphans, or who deprive the foreigners living among you of justice, for these people do not fear me,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

John is setting in prison and wondering why Jesus has over turned the puppet government of Israel and beaten out the Romans.

I am righteous and I am setting in prison - Where is the justice of God for these evil doers?

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Jesus Responds -

Jesus is quoting a few passages of Isa back to John.

Isaiah 35:3–6 NLT

With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees. Say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you.” And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf. The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will sing for joy! Springs will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams will water the wasteland.

Isaiah 64:1 NLT

Oh, that you would burst from the heavens and come down! How the mountains would quake in your presence!

Isaiah 28:18–19 NLT

I will cancel the bargain you made to cheat death, and I will overturn your deal to dodge the grave. When the terrible enemy sweeps through, you will be trampled into the ground. Again and again that flood will come, morning after morning, day and night, until you are carried away.” This message will bring terror to your people.

Isaiah 29:18–19 NLT

In that day the deaf will hear words read from a book, and the blind will see through the gloom and darkness. The humble will be filled with fresh joy from the Lord. The poor will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

The point Jesus is making is – I am the one who is fulfilling the prophecies of the Messiah. I am who I say I am.

Now John would have had these prophesies memorized and he would have easily understood what Jesus was saying.

In each of the Isa prophesies there are two actions the Messiah takes:

The Judgment of evil - This is what John was looking for.

The restoration of the down trodden and the call to return to God’s Kingdom.

Jesus is telling John that he has it backwards.

Restoration and a call to repentance is first.

and only then comes Judgment.

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Judgment and Justice Will Come

Jesus is not saying - “God changed his mind. No more justice!”

Jesus is telling John that his time table is not the time table of God

And God desires to give Israel a chance to turn back to Him.

But justice and judgment are coming.

Jesus makes this point clear just a few verses later.

Matthew 11:20–24 NLT

Then Jesus began to denounce the towns where he had done so many of his miracles, because they hadn’t repented of their sins and turned to God. “What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse. I tell you, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you. “And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead. For if the miracles I did for you had been done in wicked Sodom, it would still be here today. I tell you, even Sodom will be better off on judgment day than you.”

Matt 11:20-

Jesus was the last chance for Israel and how they responded to him and His message of the Kingdom would decide their fate.

Their response as a nation was to reject Him and His message and to have him killed.

Judgment did come - AD 70 - Titus sacked Jerusalem and set it to blaze.

Judgment did come - AD 70 - Titus sacked Jerusalem and set it to blaze.

1.1 million died according the eye witness and historian Josephus.

The rest of the citizens became slaves to the Roman empire.

Rome itself was burned to the ground in AD 64 and finally collapsed as an Empire in 476 AD.

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Right after Jesus warns the cities of God’s judgment he says this:

Matt 11:

Matthew 11:28–30 NLT

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

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Jesus demonstrates to us and showed John God’s incredible love and long suffering.

God cares about justice and making things right.

But he also cares about the people who practice injustice.

We can desire justice and for the world to be right.

But Jesus gives us the pattern of God and for us - Love and long suffering towards our enemies.

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Our desire for vengeance needs to be checked by God’s desire for repentance.

It is easy to get caught up in the same system that God will judge.

· We begin to see anyone not like us as enemies.

· We begin to imagine God hates the same people we hate.

· Our lack of mercy on others begins to be seen as righteous judgment.

· We begin to look forward to the judgment of our enemies rather than holding out hope for repentance and reconciliation.

· Before long we look and act just like the evil system God will judge.

But God calls us to a higher standard than the ways of this fallen world he calls us to the way of the Kingdom of God.

Romans 12:9–21 NLT

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

In a corrupt world with unimaginable amounts of injustice we can easily become a people of hatred.

But God’s slowness towards judgment is because of His love for even the evil doer.

He is slow to anger

He is long suffering

And he desires for all to come to a knowledge of Him through Jesus.

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When justice is slow we have two choices.

We can question God like John did.

Or we can recognize that God still has a work to do in the hearts of the people and we can choose to partner with Him.

Seek justice - Desire Justice - But Love your enemy too.

Romans 13:4–7 NLT

The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.

1 Corinthians 13:4–7 NLT

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.