Jesus Teaches us How to Treat One Another

Last week Troy introduced the new Wednesday night series that we are calling Why did my Savior come to earth. Each week we will be diving deeper into scripture to see that outside of his main purpose to seek and save the lost there are many reasons why He came.

Last week Troy showed us that one of those reasons was to fulfill prophesy or to fulfill the Law and the Prophets.

Tonight I want to share with you two reasons why Jesus came. One reason is mentioned in our text for tonight, Matthew 11. and the other is reason that I observed as I studied the text.

In Matthew 11 Jesus is teaching and preaching in the cities where his disciples lived and while preaching some of John the Baptist’s followers came to Jesus to confirm that he was in fact the Christ.

Just as a refresher John the Baptist’s mission was to pave the way for Jesus

In Matthew 3 we learn that John came preaching repentance because the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand. It says Matthew 3:1-3.

Matthew 3:1–3 ESV

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’ ”

This prophecy is found in Isaiah 4

Part of John’s mission was to help the popularity of Jesus increase while at the same time making his popularity decrease.

This is why John says in John 3:30....

John 3:30 ESV

He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Man this is backwards from how many live their lives today isn’t it?

Most people live their lives today with the sole purpose of bettering themselves. What can I do or say to make my name look great. We as Christians need to take note of John’s life and live our lives very similarly. Rather than living day to day with the purpose of making our name great we need to live our daily lives focused on that which makes His name great.

Throughout John’s life he did not receive much recognition for what he did and what he accomplished in life but towards the end of his life he recieved the most glowing compliment and recognition from Jesus himself.

In Matthew 11, knowing that his life was in jeopardy John sent some of his followers to confirm that Jesus was the Christ so that he could be certain that he hadn’t done everything that he had done for nothing.

After Jesus responds to John’s followers in verse 4-6 by giving what seemed to be a pretty harsh response. Jesus makes it clear to his audience what he thinks about John. Matthew 11:11-15.

Matthew 11:11–15 ESV

Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Jesus says of all the people who have come before John, there has never been a greater person than John the Baptist.

I can only imagine that this didn’t sit well with his audience. So your telling me that this man, who wears camel’s hair and eats locusts and wild honey is the greatest. Your telling me that he is better than Abraham, Moses or Elijah.

Jesus continues in verse 16. Matthew 11:16-17.

Matthew 11:16–17 ESV

“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, “ ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’

Jesus says, Yes he is the greatest but it doesn't really matter because you didn’t listen to him or even if you knew this ahead of time you wouldn’t have listened to him.

Jesus says you guys are just like little kids, your never satisfied. If your friends are playing parade you will not be satisfied and will not participate, or if your friends decide to play funeral that won’t satisfy you either. This example is so true for those who have kids.

All though we see this attitude in our kids unfortunately we can see it in us as adults many times too.

How often are we critical of how someone does something that we don’t like. I don’t like that we do this or that in our assembles.

We must stop living like Godlilocks and expect that we are going to find the environment. To many people if their not happy just get up and leave and go to the next setting expecting it to be better.

We must stop being critics of everything because when it come to the church their has never been a critic who has made the church better.

Before we move any further I want to point out the first reason why Jesus came to earth. Although this reason is not specifically stated as will be the second reason that we will see in just a moment. It is one that stood out to me as a prepared for this lesson.

And that is both Jesus and John came to teach us how to treat one another.

Both Jesus and John had high regards for one another and didn’t have any difficulty letting people know how they felt about one another.

We just read about what Jesus thought about John but listen to how John speaks of Jesus in John 1:27.

John 1:27 ESV

even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”

John says not only is Jesus greater than I but I am not worthy to untie his shoes.

Imagine the impact that the church would have on this world if everything that came out of our mouth was a positive statement about about others.

What if rather than talking about what we don’t like about someone we always talk about what we do like.

We as Christians, myself included need to do a better job at looking for the good in others.

We need to understand that by talking negatively about others it never benefits us or the church.

I like how Jim Faughn a preacher states this point when he says we need to remember that our candle does not burn brighter just because I blow your out.

In other words by me saying something negative about someone else it never makes us look better and more importantly when the negative comment has to do with a brother or sister in Christ it never makes the church look better.

Gossiping about others or speaking negatively about others should not be something that we hear on a regular basis because not only does Jesus and John demonstrate how we are to talk about one another but the Apostle Paul teaches on this very issue when he says this in Ephesians 4:29-32.

Ephesians 4:29–32 ESV

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 4:29–32 ESV

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Jesus and John teach us that we don’t have to look alike, talk alike, dress alike, eat alike, or like the same things in order to compliment one another.

Jesus and John were their own person but yet they both accomplished their mission, and fulfilled their ministry.

Church there has never been a time when all of God’s people were the same but the time is now for us to all build upon another’s differences by complimenting each other for the purpose of building one another up and to strengthen the Lord’s church in this community.

So the first thing that I notice from Matthew 11 is that Jesus came to teach us how to treat one another

Let’s keep reading in chapter 11 and see what else we can learn about why Jesus came to earth. Matthew 11:18-19.

Matthew 11:18–19 ESV

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”

Jesus tells the crowd that John neither eating or drinking meaning that he wasn’t all that social but yet you discredited him as a demon.

But then I come doing the opposite and you treat me the same way. You call me a drunkard.

In other words John and I can’t win for losing. Nothing we do pleases you.

Finally tonight here in verse 19 we have our second reason why Jesus came to earth. Jesus says that he came eating and drinking.

What does this mean. Well, when we unpack this idea that Jesus came for the purpose of eating and drinking we see that Jesus came to be a very social person.

Repeatedly in Jesus ministry we have record of him socializing with people at weddings, banquets, he invited people into the homes that he stayed in.

Jesus talked to small crowds and large crowds. Jesus was a man who lived amongst the people who he ministered to.

Because Jesus was very social it is evident that he was very approachable. People from every walk of life felt comfortable spending time with Jesus.

Many of the people who felt comfortable around Jesus were not where they should have been morally or spiritually. But yet they still felt comfortable talking to Jesus.

You see Jesus never compromised on what was right or wrong but at the same time his personality was such that people who desperately needed to hear his message were given the opportunity because he treated them as he would want to be treated while at the same time telling them what they need to hear in love.

Because Jesus was approachable and treated other respectfully he was a joy to be around. A good way to see if we as Christians are like Jesus here we would do well to ask ourselves does a room brighten when we enter it or does it get brighter when we leave.

Jesus always brightened the environment and the lives of those he was around.

Finally, and most importantly because Jesus came eating and drinking we see that he used this setting to stay focused on his mission.

Of all the occasion where Jesus was eating and drinking with other he always had eternity on his mind. W e don’t have time to look at it tonight but I would encourage you to continue reading in Matthew 11.

Of all the occasion where Jesus was eating and drinking with others he always had eternity on his mind. We don’t have time to look at it tonight but I would encourage you to continue reading in Matthew 11. In verses 20-30 Jesus talks about judgment and offers the great invitation.

When we think about these two ideas that Jesus came, one to teach us how to treat one another and secondly he came eating and drinking. Let me ask you are you following his example.

Are you treating others the way Jesus treated John. Let me challenge you moving forward to always strive to speak positively about your brothers and sisters in Christ and if someone starts to tell you something negative about them stop them and let them know that you are not interested.

When I think about the idea of eating and drinking I think well I’m doing pretty good because I love eating and drinking. But if we are being serious I think we all can improve in this area.

Wouldn’t it be great if we got back to how things used to be. Invite people into our homes. Or get out of our homes.

Be a person who others love being around.

But remember that being a social and approachable person is pointless if we don't have the same mission that Christ had. We need to be people who are social and approachable for the purpose sharing Christ and his teachings about eternity with those we are around.