Sermon for Advent 3, December 12, 2021
Matthew 11:2-10 2While John was in prison, he
heard about the things Christ was doing.
He sent two of his disciples 3to ask him, “Are you the Coming
One or should we wait for someone else?”
4Jesus answered them, “Go, report to John what you hear and
see: 5The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy
are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the gospel is preached to
the poor. 6Blessed is the one
who does not take offense at me.” 7As
these two were leaving, Jesus began to talk to the
crowds about John. “What did you go out
into the wilderness to see? A reed
shaken by the wind? 8What did
you go out to see? A man dressed in soft
clothing? No, those who wear soft
clothing are in kings’ houses. 9So
what did you go out to see? A
prophet? Yes, I tell you! And he is much more than a prophet. 10This is the one about whom
it is written, ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare
your way before you.’” (EHV)
Dear children of the heavenly Father,
Biblical
scholars like to debate John’s motives in this text. Many guess that John was having his doubts
about Jesus. They point to the question
John sent his disciples to ask: “Are you the Coming One or should we wait for
someone else?” Some students of the
Word assume this question indicates John wasn’t so sure Jesus really is the
promised Messiah. Some think John
doubted Jesus as a person, and others suggest John doubted Jesus’ actions. They say that while John heard the reports of
the miracles Jesus was performing, he wondered where was the judgment the
prophets had said God would bring?
To be honest, however, the Bible speaks well
enough of John the Baptist that we have no need to doubt the man’s faith in
Jesus. To question his integrity is
nothing short of slander. Yet, if I am
to draw that conclusion, how should we take John’s question? Why did he send his followers to ask Jesus if
He is the One? I believe the most
faithful way to perceive John’s motives is to assume John cared about his
disciples’ salvation. Likewise, you and
I should Take those we love to Jesus.
Scripture hints that some of John’s followers
were enticed by the religious laws of the Pharisees. John was sent ahead of Jesus to preach a
baptism of repentance, but it may be that his disciples put more stock in their
acts of penitence than in the Savior who was living righteousness on their
behalf. In fact, “John’s disciples
came to [Jesus] and said, ‘Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your
disciples do not fast at all?’” (Matthew 9:14) Based on their question, we can conclude that
John sent his disciples to Jesus to ask today’s question much more for their
benefit than for his own. Naturally, Jesus’
answer would be a blessing to John, but his greater concern was that those
wavering in their faith might hear and see what Jesus was doing in fulfillment
of the scriptures.
Now, I don’t know whether John thought this all
out in advance. This most likely was an
instance of John living the message he once spoke. When John’s disciples were concerned that his
followers were going over to Jesus, John replied, “The friend of the
bridegroom, who stands and listens for him, is overjoyed when he hears the
bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine
is now complete. He must increase, but I
must decrease.” (John 3:29-30) Unfairly
confined in prison, John understood that his role of preparing people to receive
salvation through faith in Christ Jesus was nearing its end, so to the end John
continued to point his disciples to the Lamb of God.
John implored his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are
you the Coming One or should we wait for someone else?” In other words, John wanted his followers
to see personally whether Jesus was merely another prophet, or is He the
fulfillment of all Old Testament prophecy?
The question is blunt and direct.
“Are you or not?” Notice, though,
how Jesus answers. He doesn’t give a
simple yes or no. In fact, Jesus’ answer
should quell any doubts John, or anyone else, might ever have about Jesus.
Jesus didn’t say look at how my enemies fear Me
or look at the big crowds that follow Me.
Rather, He quoted what the ancient prophets had foretold God’s people would
see: “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are
cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the gospel is preached to the
poor.” Jesus instructed His
questioners to compare what they heard and saw Him doing with what the prophets
had foretold concerning the coming Messiah.
Then Jesus declared, “Blessed is the one who does not take offense at
me.”
Of course, both John and Jesus had to deal with
people who were assuming that the Messiah was coming into the world to set up a
kingdom on earth. Many of those who
followed for a little while assumed Jesus would end poverty and sickness, end
Roman rule, and create a new Jewish state of world domination. If you think that sounds like some outlandish
modern-day speculation, it isn’t that far off from how many people react today. However, we need to be careful not to look
for a Jesus of our own imagination, but rather seek Jesus as God has shown Him
to be.
A grave danger many fall into is that they
think being a follower of Jesus should bring earthly peace and prosperity. Then, when trouble, sorrow, danger, poverty,
or even boredom comes upon them, they abandon Jesus to seek earthly pleasures
rather than the riches of heaven Jesus came to give. Or despairing from misconceived notions, they
put their hope for a good life in themselves.
In other words, they become offended at Jesus—the word in Greek means a
deadly snare that catches and kills.
Rather than being concerned primarily with the
good and bad things of earth, which are so very temporary, we must be like John
the Baptist and focus on the Savior God actually sent, because Jesus didn’t
come into the world for the minor goal of setting up a kingdom on earth. Instead, Jesus came into this world to win everlasting
peace with God for those who believe in Him.
Instead of trying to solve every earthly problem, or making your life on
earth a temporary pleasure garden, Jesus came to make it possible for you to
enjoy paradise forever with Him in heaven.
Dear friends, Take those you love to Jesus,
because Jesus accomplished His goal of winning our forgiveness and salvation. He opened the gates of heaven for us by
living exactly as His heavenly Father had planned for Him to live in our place.
Instead of listening to the temptations
of the devil or the world, Jesus obeyed His heavenly Father’s will every moment
of His life. Instead of doing what the
flesh desires, Jesus walked in perfect harmony with the Ten Commandments, all His
life, on our behalf. Rather than wander
aimlessly through His days, Jesus purposely fulfilled all the Old Testament
prophecies so that we could recognize Him as the Savior God sent. Then, in the end, the holy Son of God in
human flesh, Jesus Christ, went to the cross, not by force, but willingly to
die for the sins of the world, so that the Father in heaven could justly
declare the whole world innocent of sin because Jesus became sin for us.
You know, it is not surprising that the
scholars wonder about John the Baptist and whether he had begun to doubt. It’s called projection. We so often grow weary and doubtful that we
assume everyone else does as well, and sure, it could be that John was truly
wondering. However, Jesus doesn’t
indicate that at all. As Jesus sent John’s
disciples back with the Good News of all that Jesus was doing to fulfill the
Scriptures, "Jesus began to talk to the crowds about John. ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to
see? A reed shaken by the wind? What did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? No, those who wear soft clothing are in
kings’ houses. So what did you go out to
see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you! And he is much more than a prophet.’” Now, listening to Jesus, do you really think
John was wavering in his faith? Was John
swayed by the circumstances of life, or was he merely seeking material
gain? Based on what Jesus says, I highly
doubt it. Therefore, neither should we
be swayed by the events of our lives or the glitter of earth.
You see, John the Baptist also fulfilled the
prophecies God had made about him. Not
because John was something more than a man, but because God had planned every
detail of Jesus’ coming into the world to save you. Everything God has foretold about Jesus is
fulfilled exactly in the time God says it will happen, and everything God says
works faith in us also does exactly as God says.
This morning, we witnessed a baptism. In that simple act of pouring on water with
God’s Word of declaration, God made a human baby His own dear child. The Holy Spirit caused St. Peter to assure
us, “In [Noah’s] ark a few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water. And corresponding to that, baptism now saves
you—not the removal of dirt from the body but the guarantee of a good
conscience before God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter
3:20-21) To the world, this simple act
doesn’t look like much, but with God’s promise behind it, the child is given
faith in Jesus by this baptism, and faith in Jesus saves. Now, it is also true that this faith needs to
be nourished so that it sustains the child to eternal life. And that’s where the Word and Sacraments play
in. Parents, God gives you the role of Taking
the one you love to Jesus. As you
bring him regularly to church and Sunday school, and teach him the full counsel
of God, you are feeding and strengthening the faith that brings him peace with
God and eternal life. Hear then what
Jesus promises, “Blessed is the one who does not take offense at me.”
This whole congregation has the same
invitation. As you gather together
around God’s Word, here in church, in Bible study, in your home with daily Bible
and devotional reading, the Holy Spirit is building up your faith in the Savior
who loved you enough to die for you.
Furthermore, Jesus gives His precious body and blood through the
Sacrament of Holy Communion so that He can personally place in your mouth the
evidence of His sacrifice, the human body and blood of the Lamb of God who paid
for your sins on the cross, so that you receive again the forgiveness He won by
His sacrifice.
Those who avoid the Word of God, and the
worship services through which God serves us, actually hate, not only Jesus,
but also themselves. They fall into the
deadly snare of keeping themselves from the love of God in Christ Jesus our
Lord.
The second chief commandment is summarized as
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” Because
Jesus promises, “Blessed is the one who does not take offense at me,” this
morning I urge you all to show true love to yourself, to your children and
family, and to your neighbor; Take those you love to Jesus. Amen.
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you
faultless in the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our
Savior, be glory, majesty, power, and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord,
before all time, now, and to all eternity. Amen.
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