Jesus Reaffirms His Identity Through John the Baptist
Notes
Transcript
What do you do with doubt? How many of us have had moments or maybe a long-term crisis of faith? Maybe your circumstances have caused you in some way to doubt the goodness of God, love, or possibly even His existence. Well if you have ever found yourself in a crisis of faith, you are in good company, for even John the Baptist found himself in this situation. The very prophet who’s mission was to announce the Holy one of God, doubted Christ’s identity. Why did he doubt? because John was in a moment of crisis At this point in Jesus ministry John had been imprisoned by Herod for the better part of the year. Herod himself was rather ambivalent toward John the Baptist but as we will see with consistency Herod was easily swayed to do what was wrong for the approval of others. This is the same Herod we see in the account of Jesus’ crucifixion.
Trans: So then what do we do when we face this type of doubt? One commentator puts it this way.
“doubt has intellectual cause; not to be forced down by acts of will, but by prayer for more Light”
The Biblical Illustrator; Matthew chap XI, page 199. - Baker
Trans: Turn with me to Matthew 11:1-19
1 When Jesus had finished giving instructions to his twelve disciples, he moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns.
2 Now when John heard in prison what the Christ was doing, he sent a message through his disciples
3 and asked him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
4 Jesus replied to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see:
5 The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news,
6 and blessed is the one who isn’t offended by me.”
7 As these men were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?
8 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? See, those who wear soft clothes are in royal palaces.
9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
10 This is the one about whom it is written: See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.
11 “Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has appeared, but the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been suffering violence, and the violent have been seizing it by force.
13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
14 And if you’re willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who is to come.
15 Let anyone who has ears listen.
16 “To what should I compare this generation? It’s like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to other children:
17 We played the flute for you, but you didn’t dance; we sang a lament, but you didn’t 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, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”
I. A Question Born of Doubt Matthew 11:2-6
I. A Question Born of Doubt Matthew 11:2-6
2 Now when John heard in prison what the Christ was doing, he sent a message through his disciples
3 and asked him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
4 Jesus replied to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see:
5 The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news,
6 and blessed is the one who isn’t offended by me.”
A. The Nature of the Question - Are you the one who is to come?
A. The Nature of the Question - Are you the one who is to come?
B. The Reasons for the Question
B. The Reasons for the Question
1. John no doubt was weary due to his circumstances
2. John warned of the coming judgement and yet Jesus ha
Application: Most doubt comes from misunderstanding or missing information
Application: Most doubt comes from misunderstanding or missing information
John was most likely wondering if Jesus was the Christ, why didn’t he rescue him from prison
John didn’t understand why Jesus had not yet enacted His divine wrath on those that had not repented. John’s doubt was a result of missing information. Now when I was growing up in church, people never really talked about this type of doubt. It was almost shameful to admit that at times we doubt the story of Christ or the goodness of God. From this encounter we can see, that even the most faithful servants can have times of doubt. It’s not that we at times doubt that is the biggest problem but rather what we do with that doubt.
Reactions to doubt...
The religious reaction - Good Christians don’t doubt , so I will just ignore my doubt and suppress it. In this reaction we just choose not to deal with it.
This is not how John approached it instead he inquired of the Lord.
“doubt has intellectual cause; not to be forced down by acts of will, but by prayer for more Light”
The Biblical Illustrator; Matthew chap XI, page 199. - Baker
Trans: Look what John did.
2 Now when John heard in prison what the Christ was doing, he sent a message through his disciples
When doubt had arisen in his heart he asked the Lord for clarification.
Jesus Answers the question only for those who would listen.
Jesus Answers the question only for those who would listen.
Have you ever noticed that there is never enough proof for the skeptic? Jesus could have just said, “yes I am He.” But instead he aswered in such a way that only those who were looking for truth would understand his answer.
4 Jesus replied to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see:
5 The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news,
6 and blessed is the one who isn’t offended by me.”
Jesus didn’t answer the question directly. Instead He pointed John’s disciples to another prophet, Isaiah.
5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
1 The Spirit of the Lord God is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners;
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of our God’s vengeance; to comfort all who mourn,
After quoting the prophet, told them to report everything that they had seen. They had witnessed these very miracles taking place. They had no doubt heard the reports of the dead being raised to life.
The information that was needed was right there in front of their eyes they entire time but it was only when the Lord gave them the evidence were they able to recognize it.
Application: Maybe today you are being plagued with doubt or maybe you have been suppressing your doubt for years. Let me encourage you first off by saying you are not alone in this struggle. But let me encourage you to take your doubt to the Lord. Inquire of Him and allow Him to enter into that doubt and diminish it with His light. Like John the Baptist we often doubt because we can’t quite see what God is doing.
II. Jesus Praises John the Baptist
II. Jesus Praises John the Baptist
7 As these men were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?
8 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? See, those who wear soft clothes are in royal palaces.
9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
10 This is the one about whom it is written: See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.
11 “Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has appeared, but the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been suffering violence, and the violent have been seizing it by force.
13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
14 And if you’re willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who is to come.
A. Jesus asks the question, “Why did you go to see John?”
A. Jesus asks the question, “Why did you go to see John?”
1. Was it because he told you what you wanted to hear? No, John was not a reed swaying in the wind of popular opinion.
2. was it because he was one of the important of society? No, to hear them you’d go to the palaces?
3. You went to hear a prophet of God, yet more than a prophet.
B. There is no greater prophet than John the Baptist and yet he would be considered least in the Kingdom of heaven.
B. There is no greater prophet than John the Baptist and yet he would be considered least in the Kingdom of heaven.
- John could only bare witness to His coming, those coming after him would be the hands and feet of Jesus on the earth and do an even greater work. vs.11
C. John’s ministry was prophesied to come. He would have the same ministry of Elijah preaching repent before it’s to late. Malachi 4:5
C. John’s ministry was prophesied to come. He would have the same ministry of Elijah preaching repent before it’s to late. Malachi 4:5
5 Look, I am going to send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.
III. Jesus rebukes the unresponsive generation
III. Jesus rebukes the unresponsive generation
15 Let anyone who has ears listen.
16 “To what should I compare this generation? It’s like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to other children:
17 We played the flute for you, but you didn’t dance; we sang a lament, but you didn’t 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, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”
A.“Let anyone with Ears listen” - what I am about to say is for all those who will listen.
A.“Let anyone with Ears listen” - what I am about to say is for all those who will listen.
This is a common phrase used multiple times in scripture. In most instances it us used directly before a rebuke or warning. The word listen, does not mean literally able to hear, but rather hearing with the intent of learning and obeying. There would be many who would come a hear Jesus, but few that would actually allow the message to affect their hearts. For this reason, Jesus often spoke in a way that only those who came to Him with the intent of learning would understand. We see this in the parables.
B. “To what shall I compare this Generation? It’s like children sitting in the marketplace who call out to each other:
B. “To what shall I compare this Generation? It’s like children sitting in the marketplace who call out to each other:
The religious leaders were being compared to children begging in the market place. However, instead these children, rather than calling out to the ones who could meet their needs, they call out to each other instead. They were more interested in making noise, be seen than actually begging for help. In the same way these religious leaders were loud and gave the appearance of seeking the truth, yet when the truth came they rejected it. It was obvious that they only made a lot of noise to be seen of men. They weren’t really interested in the Messiah, instead they used religion as a way to feed their pride.
C. The word of the Lord came in two different ways. Matthew 11:17
C. The word of the Lord came in two different ways. Matthew 11:17
17 We played the flute for you, but you didn’t dance; we sang a lament, but you didn’t mourn!
God’s word has come to us in two different ways illustrated by Jesus and John the Baptist Life.
John preached the lament. Repent for Judgement is coming.
Jesus delayed judgement and preached the good news to the poor, healed the lame, and raised the dead. The message of God’s judgement brings mourning but the Hope in Christ brings a celebration neither of these messages were recieved.
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, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”
John came as one who is mourning; Jesus as one that was feasting and yet they rejected both messages: The coming Judgement and the coming hope.
Application: Both the preaching of Judgement and the mighty works of the savior were designed to get the attention of those who would listen! Have you been listening? Have you accepted the gift of Salvation? Or are you like the pharisees, Only using religion for your own benefit without any real interest in the savior.