Nobody Expects the Spanish Inquisition

Date: 2022-05-01

Audience: Grass Valley Corps ONLINE

Text: Matthew 11

Title: Nobody Expects the Spanish Inquisition

Proposition: God often does the unexpected

Purpose: Follow Jesus, not your expectations

Opening

Grace and peace

Illustration

In the second season of Monty Python’s Flying Circus they did a sketch which was set up as a 1912 period piece where a man came in and started talking about trouble at the mill. The woman he was speaking to stopped him and asked what he meant, and he said, “I don’t know, I was just told to come say there was trouble at the mill. I didn’t expect a kind of Spanish Inquisition!”

At which point three men dressed in medieval Spanish cardinal robes burst in and one of them roars, “Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!” And hilarity ensued.

The Pythons were known for taking otherwise ordinary things in unexpected, sideways to the customary way of things, directions. What they probably didn’t realize, and you may not have either, is that they were simply following the pattern which had been demonstrated to them by the Creator of the universe.

Reference to proposition and purpose:

God very often does things that are completely unexpected! And he always asks us to follow him rather than whatever it is we’ve decided ahead of time will be the right or proper way to go.

Reference to text:

We aren’t the only ones who find this idea unsettling or difficult to understand, by the way. In fact, while Jesus was here, sharing the Word of God with people, he got a message from John the Baptist, who seemed a little concerned that he may have made a mistake

Transition:

Grab your Bibles and turn with me to Matthew, chapter 11, and you’ll see what I mean.

First Point/Passage:

Text: Matthew 11:2-6

2 John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, 3 “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?”

4 Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen—5 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.” 6 And he added, “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.” [1]

Explanation:

Remember that Jesus had sent out twelve of his key disciples to carry his message out to the region of Galilee, and after that he began to go and teach his way through this area as well.

John, meanwhile, had been arrested, and was imprisoned at Machaerus (meh-key-rus), an imposing fortress on a hill overlooking the eastern Dead Sea. Herod Antipas would hold him there for about two years altogether after John had made an issue of Antipas’ illegitimate marriage. Herod Antipas had divorced his own wife to marry the wife of his Brother, Herod Philip. In addition to being wrong and illegal, it was also pretty weird, because they were all related in a freaky-royal-family-inbreeding kind of way. So John was, like, “Dude, just… No. Stop it,” to Antipas, so Antipas had him tossed in the dungeon, but then didn’t kill him because he was pretty sure John was a prophet, and he didn’t want to mess too much with a guy who worked for God.

At this point, John had been locked up for a bit, but he’s patiently waiting for something, so he’s hanging in. What’s he waiting for? The Messiah. He’s waiting for Jesus to kick some Herodian hiney.

John knew who Jesus was – he had from the moment he first encountered him.

Remember when Mary, mother of Jesus, had just been told she was going to have the Son of God? She went to visit an older relative who the angel told her was also miraculously pregnant. (Luke 1)

39 A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town 40 where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

42 Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. 43 Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? 44 When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. [2]

That baby was John. Even then, he knew.

As an adult, preaching to thousands in the wilderness around Jordan, John knew the Messiah was coming and he wasn’t shy about telling people what was coming. This is from Luke chapter 3…

15 Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon, and they were eager to know whether John might be the Messiah. 16 John answered their questions by saying, “I baptize you with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 17 He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”[3]

What did John expect? He thought the Messiah was coming with FIRE.

Frankly it wasn’t just him.

Pretty much everyone was hoping for that.

Since the Romans had taken over Israel, almost a hundred years before, there had been a growing undercurrent of rebellion growing in the people there. Rome’s rule wasn’t cruel, exactly, but it was harsh and brutal; deadly to those who pushed back against the overlords.

The teachers began to focus on those verses that said the Messiah would come to end oppression. And they began to teach that this would mean and end to the world as it was.

Which people took to mean war.

They expected Messiah would come and raise an army, taking up a sword to lead his people, push the Romans into the sea, then bring Israel out to dominate the world.

Just like John would come to, they expected that the Messiah would come with FIRE.

But here’s Jesus.

43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you![4]

Not exactly what they were hoping for.

And John, locked in prison, waiting for that Messiah to come and burn the collaborators, is starting to think he may have missed something or maybe just plain gotten it wrong.

Which is why he sent his guys to ask Jesus, “Isn’t it you?”

And Jesus sent them back with the message of what they had heard and what they had seen: Jesus was healing every hurt, he was even raising the dead, and he was preaching good news to the poor. And that God would bless John and anyone else who holds on.

What is the message he’s trying to send? It’s this:

Supporting Scripture:

3 With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands,

and encourage those who have weak knees.

4 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.”

5 And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind

and unplug the ears of the deaf.

6 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.

7 The parched ground will become a pool,

and springs of water will satisfy the thirsty land.

Marsh grass and reeds and rushes will flourish

where desert jackals once lived. [5]

That’s part of the promise God made to send the Messiah. It’s Isaiah 35:3-7. It lists signs to watch for: The blind will see, the deaf hear, the lame will walk, and the mute speak. The very signs Jesus is exhibiting. The works he has sent disciples out in the world to do as well.

Is he the one? He’s fulfilled the signs. Just not how you expected, John.

Reference to Proposition:

God often does the unexpected.

Reference to Purpose:

Jesus is saying, “Hold on, John. Follow me, not your expectations.”

Transition:

But, before John’s guys head back to bring this message, Jesus gives them something else to take with them.

Second Point/Passage:

Text: Matthew 11:7-19

7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. “What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind? 8 Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people with expensive clothes live in palaces. 9 Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet. 10 John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say,

‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,

and he will prepare your way before you.’ [6]

Explanation:

What scripture is Jesus referring to here? It’s from Malachi, chapter 3, which says there will be a messenger who will come prepare the way for the Messiah. If John is that messenger, then Jesus is the Messiah – John’s already said it and Jesus is confirming it.

Notice how he’s couched it for the crowd, though. He’s pointing out that John wasn’t what they expected a prophet to look like. He wasn’t swayed by every wind of politics, like the spiritual leaders they had were. He wasn’t living the rich life of a king. He was living a sacrificial life, dedicated to sharing God’s Word with the people.

Then he goes on to say that what makes a prophet great isn’t his position or wealth, but his message.

Supporting Scripture:

11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is 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 subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15 Whoever has ears, let them hear. [7]

Wait, what? Elijah? The amazing prophet of God who was taken up to heaven in a chariot made of fire? Elijah was the symbol of prophetic greatness and it was said that he, or a prophet like him, would come to announce the Day of the Lord, the coming of God.

There are people who say that Jesus never claimed to be God. I say they didn’t look into what he said. At the very least, there is an implication of divinity here. Also, at the least, by elevating John to this kind of prophetic status, Jesus is creating the implication that he is greater yet. The Messenger is never greater than the message, after all.

Reference to Proposition:

So not only is Jesus reassuring John and sending him a message that he very much IS who John thought, he’s letting him know that there is even MORE going on. God was doing so much more than even John expected.

Reference to Purpose:

John needs to relax and follow Jesus, not the expectations he built for himself.

Transition:

Then Jesus switched his focus to center on the crowd and on the people who weren’t even there.

Third Point/Passage:

Text: Matthew 11:16-19

16 “To what can I compare this generation? It is like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends,

17 ‘We played wedding songs,

and you didn’t dance,

so we played funeral songs,

and you didn’t mourn.’

18 For John didn’t spend his time eating and drinking, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.” [8]

Explanation:

John was more the doom and gloom type, warning people that they should mourn the sin in their life and turn back to God. Jesus is the Good News – Hey, you’re all invited to take your place in the Kingdom of God! So turn back to God and get in here!

But there were people who said John didn’t have enough fun to listen to and Jesus had too much.

Between the prophet and the Messiah, every way to think about God and our relationship to him was covered, but there were still people who were, like, “Oh, no thank you.” And Jesus calls them spoiled children and says that they can look at the results and see who is following Widsom. Then he tells them what’s coming for those who continue to refuse to enter God’s Kingdom – those who want to stay in rebellion against their Creator.

Supporting Scripture:

20 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. 21 “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. 22 I tell you, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you.

23 “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. 24 I tell you, even Sodom will be better off on judgment day than you.” [9]

Tyre was known for the way it had oppressed God’s people and Sidon was known for their intense paganism. How could they be better off than a town filled with and in the middle of God’s people? How about because they didn’t have the opportunities afforded to Israel. God’s people were supposed to know better. They were supposed to DO better! As Matthew continues to make clear to his readers, Jesus is a fulfilment of the prophecies of the Messiah, and the people he was going to had all the tools they needed to recognize him. They had all the encouragement they needed too. And John, calling to them. And Jesus, doing the same.

How is Capernaum worse off than Sodom, a city destroyed for its lack of hospitality? Well, Sodom had one warning and one chance, and it ignored them, leading to a final judgment being passed on it. Capernaum, on the other hand, has had Jesus there, living among them, doing hundreds of miracles, restoring people to health, to wholeness, forgiving their sins, teaching them how God intended for them to live…

And yet so many treated him like a sideshow act or a problem to be solved, rather than as God’s representative or the answer to the questions of their lives.

If the people in Sodom had no excuse for their failure to recognize and respond to the angels who visited them, then the people living alongside Jesus in Capernaum had no excuse a hundred times more. They just refused to even consider that Jesus might be who he claimed to be because he simply didn’t conform to whatever it was they were expecting.

Reference to Proposition:

But the LORD is not your circus performer or a trained animal act or a deity like the pagans believed in – one that could be convinced to do what humans wanted them to do if only they did or said or offered the right things. God often does the unexpected! And Jesus did too. It was part of why people followed him, watching to see what crazy thing he was going to do or say next!

Reference to Purpose:

But that’s not the way we should think about following Jesus. Instead, we should be open to his ways and his instructions so we can follow him without trying to make him conform to OUR expectation.

Transition:

Jesus is going to wrap this little exchange up by letting people know how to follow him and why.

Fourth Point/Passage:

Text: Matthew 11:25-27

25 At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. 26 Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way!

27 “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” [10]

Explanation:

This is a teaching prayer. It should make people think, particularly people who might think that they need to correct Jesus or tell him that he can or should live or teach differently.

Let me tell you what I have discovered about preaching through the Bible one book at a time.

I learn things.

There are things that I know to be true right up until I get into God’s Word and find out that what I knew was nonsense.

I have realized that there are a lot of things that I think I know because people have told me that THIS is the way things are or THAT is what it says in scripture, but when I look into those things I find out that THIS isn’t the way things are and THAT, whatever it is, isn’t what the scripture says.

When you follow people, even great people, earnest teachers or preachers who do their best, they tend to load you down with their expectations and ideas. Are those from God? I dunno, check what Jesus said and see if it matches. Because he actually knows! The rest of us? We only know the Father if Jesus has or is revealing him to us and we are responding to that with the trust of a child. The way I analyze things and break them down and insist on overthinking them until I am sure that I understand them… I don’t know if it’s bad, but I do know that it can be contrary to the childlike faith Jesus says we need. Any time I think I’ve got it all figured out and in doing so I find I’ve created the perfect pattern to follow, the best way to live, the absolute requirements which must be met to achieve or maintain salvation, I’ve taken my eyes off Jesus and set expectations which may or may not apply to me or to anyone else.

I’ve made a burden which neither I nor anyone else should have to carry.

Supporting Scripture:

28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” [11]

What is it Jesus is telling us?

Reference to Proposition:

Stop trying to live out the expectations of the world. Stop setting expectations for yourself and others to carry. Put it all down. You want to carry a burden? Try only taking on what Jesus puts on you. He makes it far simpler and lighter for us than anything we ever assign to ourselves.

I like the way The Message Translation puts this:

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”[12]

I love that bit about learning the unforced rhythms of grace.

You have to set aside expectations to achieve that. It’s about flowing with the Spirit to wherever, whomever, whatever God leads. Don’t force it – just do it.

Reference to Purpose:

Follow Jesus, not any other expectation. If you’re burdened trying to live, then you aren’t living the way he he’s leading.

Transition:

Follow him into a life that flows with that unforced rhythm of grace.

Conclusion:

Reference to Original Illustration:

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition! Like most comedy, that sketch was delightful because it was entirely unexpected.

Tie in Proposition and Purpose:

I think there is a lot about learning to follow God that is entirely connected to learning to set aside whatever it is we expected and just learning to follow where we are led and do as we are shown. That is the key to living out the delight of being in the Kingdom of God.

Call to Action:

So what do we need to do to claim this? If we’re carrying expectations from outside parties or ones we’ve buried ourselves with, we should stop and put them down.

Worried you might leave something important behind?

If it’s important, Jesus will help bring you back to pick it up when you need to.

Follow Jesus.

How can you do that?

Well, what do you think?

Let’s spend a quick moment in prayer.

[1]Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2015), Mt 11:2–6. [2]Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2015), Lk 1:39–44. [3]Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2015), Lk 3:15–17. [4]Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2015), Mt 5:43–44. [5]Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2015), Is 35:3–7. [6]Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2015), Mt 11:7–10. [7] The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Mt 11:11–15. [8]Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2015), Mt 11:16–19. [9]Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2015), Mt 11:20–24. [10]Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2015), Mt 11:25–27. [11]Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2015), Mt 11:28–30. [12]Eugene H. Peterson, The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005), Mt 11:28–30.