Jesus is Still the One!

Advent 3 (December 16, 2007)

Rev. S. D. Spencer - Pastor

Matthew 11:2-15

2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples 3 and said to Him, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?" 4 Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 "The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 "And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me." 7 As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 "But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 9 "But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 10 "For this is he of whom it is written: 'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.' 11 "Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 "For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 "And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

Grace, peace and mercy from God the Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ, Amen!

I don’t know how many of you know this, but, I really don’t like church signs. You know, the type of church signs that someone always tries to put clever sayings on. “Wise men still seek Him, and so do wise women! That one’s not so bad but many are. I saw one this last week that said, “2 for 1 Special, inquire within!” I didn’t have time to stop so I called that church. The pastor answered the phone with something like Hello Pastor Rob or something like that. I asked about the 2 for 1 special. He told me I would just have to attend church Sunday to find out. When I mentioned to him that I was rather busy Sunday mornings and wouldn’t be able to make it, he began to read me the riot act. Why not? Who do you think you are? If Jesus had that attitude - Well you get the picture. I finally got a word in edgeways and told Him that I was a pastor and there was no way for me to be at his church on Sunday morning. He apologized and then explained to me that the 2 for 1 special was that when someone accepts Christ they get The Holy Spirit as well if we are baptized.

I explained that according to Matthew 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” We are baptized into the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. We received the full Godhead in baptism. In a sense you might say we get the 3 in 1 special. The pastor said that’s even better I’ll change the sign, 3 for 1. He just didn’t get it!

Our text today might be properly titled “They just didn’t get it.” Please listen to St. Matthew 11:2-4 again. “²Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples ³and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” ⁴And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see:”    

Ever since St. Matthew recorded these words of Scripture many theologians, scholars and church workers have debated its meaning. Is John the Baptist beginning to doubt? Is John uncertain as to who Jesus is? Isn’t this the same John the Baptistizer who proclaimed so boldly “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Is it possible that this same man now doubts? Yes it is possible but highly unlikely.

Why did John’s public ministry start before Jesus public ministry? (Pause) John was to prepare the way of the Lord! And how was he to prepare it? By preaching repentance of sin. What sins? All sins, sins of thought, word and deed, by what has been done and by what has been left undone. This includes the sin of believing in a false gods and false lords and even in false messiahs. John had preached boldly against the Pharisees and the Sadducees and even Herod Antipas. And that’s why John is in prison. Whose heart was John tying to prepare for the coming of the Lord? (Pause) All Hearts, that even includes John’s disciples’ hearts!

No doubt John’s disciples just didn’t get it. John was in prison why didn’t Jesus do something about it? After all, Jesus had increased in fame and power. He had multitudes following Him. If He were the Messiah why didn’t He just create an army and free His cousin John? Isn’t that what the Messiah is supposed to do? Take control of the world, deliver Israel from bondage and conquer her enemies? Bring peace and harmony, wealth and prosperity; restore the Garden of Eden forever and ever amen.

Do you see where the problem is? John’s disciples had the wrong messiah. They weren’t looking for the Agnes Dei, the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. They were looking for a physical ruler. They believed that they could deal with their own sin. They still leaned towards the law for that. But John was still doing his job, how? By preparing the way, he was preparing the way in the hearts and minds of his disciples to following Jesus. So he tells them to ask Jesus: “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”

When these disciples came to Jesus, they found Him in the midst of performing miracles and preaching. And not yet been convinced, they asked Him their assigned question “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” This is a simple yes/no question. Yet that isn’t how Jesus answers it. Rather, He tells them go back and report to John what they see with their own eyes—blind people receive their sight and the lame are made to walk; lepers are cleansed and deaf people are made to hear. They even saw Jesus raise some from the dead, and He preached the Gospel to the poor. And then He said to them “blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” That is to say, blessed is he who doesn’t take offense at my humility and stumble because of it.

Jesus doesn’t answer yes or no. He answers by opening the Scriptures to them. He quotes Isaiah 35:5-6 (part of our Old Testament Reading for today): “⁵Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; ⁶then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.” Jesus wants them to see who the Biblical Messiah. Not the messiah fashioned by society. For in their day many were of the Zionist movement believing the Messiah would come as a great conqueror. Hence, the messiah would restore Jerusalem to power and honor and freedom from bondage.

But Jesus is the Agnes Dei, The Lamb of God that frees man from sin. So John’s disciples begin to leave. We can expect no help from Jesus. He’s not going to send armies to help John. And as they left, Jesus starts to speak to the people about John—“what did you come out into the desert to see? A reed shaken in the wind?” Did you come out to see a man with no real convictions who’s blown to and fro by every wind of doctrine? What did you come out to see, one who seeks popularity and the praise of others, who is compensated so handsomely that he wears fine designer clothes and lives in a house fit for a king? What did you come out to see? A prophet? It’s been centuries since the last prophet, do you mean to find the next one in John the Baptist? “Yes, I say to you that John is far more than a prophet.” For he himself was foretold in the Scriptures. It was about him that it is written: “Behold I send my messenger before you, who will prepare the way for you.”

With these words the Lord Jesus praises John not just as a faithful and steadfast preacher of the divine Word, but describes him as the promised forerunner who would prepare the way for the Messiah. Therefore, He was declaring that the long awaited fullness of time that had come, it is now here, and that he, Jesus, was the promised and awaited Messiah and Savior of the world of whom John had preached.

John had testified of Him, Scripture had testified of Him and now Jesus points to the evidence in the Word of who is. You see that’s how God testifies of Jesus by His Word.

In the Word the Holy Spirit reveals Jesus to us even today. He reveals Christ to us in the Old Testament, where the prophets foretold of the Messiah to come. He is revealed in the Gospels, where we have the actual words uttered and deeds recorded of our Lord while in the flesh and dwelling among us. He is revealed to us in the Epistles by the apostles writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and speaking of His return. And this same Holy Spirit grants you faith to believe and trust in God’s Word as the very truth of God.

Be comforted to know that your Savior comes to you through His Word, for His Word does not change any more than He does. Who is Christ Jesus yesterday, today, yes and forever? He is the Lord! He is the Lord of all the good things that happen in your life. But he is also the Lord even when you face hardship and doubt, even as John’s disciples did while he languished in prison and faced death. Regardless of your fluctuating feelings, the same truth is proclaimed anew every day, that Jesus Christ died to save sinners. Jesus is still the one who laid His life down for yours, that you should not perish but have everlasting life.

We celebrate the coming of our Savior in the manger at Bethlehem because it’s through Him that our sins are forgiven and the gates of heaven are opened. Through His atoning death He conquered our death, and raises us up to new life. By faith granted through the Holy Spirit, we now have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. He came to His people, He comes to you, and He will come again, that you would need and expect any other. For Jesus is still the one, that saves you today yes and forever, In Jesus name, Amen!