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The One Who is to Come (Matthew 11:1-15)

First Baptist Church https://fbcbartow.org

“The One Who is to Come”

(Matthew 11:1-15)

Series: God’s Fulfilled Promise [on screen]

Rev. Matthew C. McCraw, EdD

First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida

June 16, 2019

The Passage

Matthew 11:1-15

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.

Introductory Comments:

Have you ever doubted something? Perhaps you’ve asked, “Are you sure they won’t think I’m weird? Are you sure that he’s the right pastor for us? Do you think this will hold me? Are you sure you want to have another kid? Is this the right school for me? Should I have eaten that second burrito? Did I make the right investment? Is there really a God? Is Jesus really the Messiah?”

That last question is the very question which John the Baptizer struggled with in today’s passage. 

The answer to that question is the most important question which we can wrestle with as followers of God. Is Jesus really the Christ?

Today, we’re going to learn that He is and how that affects us. 

Let’s pray together before we go any farther. 

(prayer)

What does it mean for us that Jesus is the Christ?

Going to church and living as a Christian are not merely exercises in living out nice little moral lives.

We live as changed people because we really believe that Jesus is the Messiah. He really is the One who came. 

John asked this question concerning Jesus and we can see how the answer to that question affects us. 

We’re going to see this morning that Jesus is the One, John paved the way for Him, and there are blessings for those of us who follow Him. 

First, . . .

I. Jesus is the one who came (1-6) [on screen]

We learn that John the Baptist is in prison at this point. He cannot directly ask Jesus this question, so he sends his followers to ask Jesus. 

Look at verses 1-6. 

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.”

John doubted. John wondered if Jesus really was the One who was to come. Was He really the Messiah? Was He really the Christ?

We might be tempted to ask, “How could John the Baptist doubt?”

Let’s not be too hard on John here. John was human. He didn’t understand everything, just as we don’t understand everything. 

One of the main reasons John probably doubted was because He didn’t fully understand why Jesus was coming.

Like many others, John probably thought that Jesus was coming as a political and military deliverer, rather than a spiritual deliverer. 

Yet, John was in prison. Jesus had not even set John free from prison, so he had some doubts. 

Many of the things that John has prophesied about Jesus had not yet happened. John didn’t know that Jesus had more in mind than simply bringing judgment. He would first bring deliverance. 

Sometimes we may doubt because we don’t really understand why Jesus is doing what He’s doing. 

Perhaps we don’t understand how He works. Perhaps He hasn’t met our expectations, so we doubt. 

We may think ourselves, “Is He really the One?”

Jesus responds to the disciples of John the Baptist in a very Jesus way. 

Jesus quotes to them the words of Isaiah the prophet. There are multiple places in the book of Isaiah which speak of the types of things that the Messiah will do. 

John would have been very familiar with the prophecies concerning the Christ, as John himself was a prophet. 

Jesus essentially is saying, “I am doing all of these things that the Messiah will do. What do you think?”

This is the old argument if it looks like a duck, if it quacks like a duck, it must be a duck. 

Jesus’ works and ministry were evidence of who He was. 

Jesus is saying, “Come and see! I am He!”

Jesus adds, “Blessed is the one who isn’t offended by me.”

In other words, “Blessed is the one who isn’t against me. Blessed is the one who accepts me as Messiah.”

Jesus wants people to understand who He is and accept Him as the Messiah. If that person does so, he or she will be blessed. 

After John’s disciples leave, we see that Jesus begins to address who John the Baptist is. 

We learn, second, that . . . 

II. John is the one who prepared (7-10) [on screen]

Jesus seemed to want to make sure that no one who witnessed this encounter lost any respect or gained any misunderstanding about who John was. 

Listen to what Jesus says. Look at verses 7-10. 

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.

Jesus gives us these first two descriptors to tell us who John was not. 

John was not a reed swaying in the wind. That is, John was not weak and impressionable. He was not easily swayed by pressure from anyone. He was true to His convictions and calling by God. 

Also, John was not a man dressed in soft clothes in royal palaces. That is, he was not looking to rub soldiers with kings and uppity people. Sometimes prophets would say whatever royalty wanted to hear in order to earn their favor. John wanted only the favor of God!

Finally, Jesus says who John, in fact, was. John was a prophet. He was not just any ol’ prophet. John was the one sent to prepare the way for God, for the Messiah. 

John was a prophet, and prophecies were made about him concerning the prophecies he would make for the Christ. This was a big chain of prophecies!

John really was a prophet and Jesus really was sent. Jesus is affirming that although John had doubts, he really was sent by God and he really did prepare the way for Jesus, the Christ. 

When we doubt we can be encouraged and reminded by God’s Word that all of this didn’t just fall into place. God had a plan. God was at work. God is at work. 

John was sent to prepare the way for God’s kingdom. Jesus came so that we may experience God’s kingdom. 

We must get this. We must understand this. We must listen. 

That takes us to our final point:

III. Blessed is the one who listens (11-15) [on screen]

Look at verses 11-15. 

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.

Jesus makes these two huge statements back to back. 

First, there is no one who has ever been born who is greater than John the Baptist. That’s a pretty big statement. 

Jesus has no problem with John. He has no problem even with his doubting. 

Jesus calls John a great prophet and then says that there is no one that has ever been born who was greater than John. John was righteous, he was brave, he was unique, and he was the prophet who got to directly prepare the way for Messiah. He was great!

Jesus makes this second statement: the person who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John. 

That’s remarkable. John is the greatest, and the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John. 

I can tell you right now you may need to double-check the math on that. 

Here’s what Jesus is saying: the person who knows Jesus for who He truly is and what He’s truly done has access to something greater than any other experience of those before the work of Jesus. 

The Gospel of Jesus Christ changes everything! It changes things so fully and so dramatically that the least in the kingdom of heaven as fulfilled in Jesus is greater than the greatest without the work of Jesus. 

John the Baptist was fantastic, he was holy, he sought God, he was the greatest prophet ever, but he experienced nothing like what those of us who truly know Jesus can experience. 

Jesus goes on to say that people have shown violence towards the kingdom of God, we just heard of that in Matthew 10. People have shown violence towards God’s prophets and God’s ways for thousands of years and they continue to do so. 

However, John is the Elijah to come. That is, he is preparing the way for God’s people to receive God. Jesus doubles-down on that. John the Baptist has prepared the way for something new. He’s prepared the way for the kingdom of God as revealed and renewed in Jesus. 

Jesus is telling us all of this and we must listen. We must understand. 

If we experience what John prepared, if we embrace who Jesus is, if we listen, learn, and live the kingdom of God, we will be blessed. 

Concluding Thoughts:

Here’s what we must understand: God is working directly so that we, and others, might be His people and enter His kingdom. 

When you doubt, remind yourself of the work of Jesus. Remind yourself of how the Gospel changes your life. 

Bottom Line: Jesus left His throne in heaven so that you could enter the kingdom of heaven.  [on screen]

(repeat)

The kingdom of heaven has come in greater force than ever before in Jesus. Jesus came from heaven so that we might go to heaven. 

Let the coming of Jesus make you great!

Have you experienced the power of the Messiah? Have you been made great by the works of Jesus?

Weekly Challenge: [on screen]

  1. Ask yourself if you believe the story of Jesus.  [on screen]

We may doubt from time to time, but do you truly believe in the work of Jesus?

Take some time this week to reflect on Jesus and His work. 

  1. Ask yourself if you’re living for the kingdom of heaven.  [on screen]

The joys that come with living for the kingdom of heaven far outweigh the joys of this earth.

John was looking for physical deliverance, earthly kingship, and immediate rule. Jesus brings spiritual deliverance, heavenly kingship, and eternal rule. 

When you live for the kingdom of heaven you live greatly. Live greatly this week!

  1. Make kingdom-minded choices this week.  [on screen]

Make choices that reflect the kingdom of heaven. Make choices that reflect the fact that Jesus is Lord of your life. 

Live differently. Love differently. Pray differently. Forgive differently. Give differently. Speak differently. 

Closing:

Of those who were born in the human way, there is no one like John the Baptist. However, those who are born again, through the supernatural work of Jesus are far greater. 

(Gospel presentation)

(closing prayer)

Invitation Song – Just as I Am

Benediction:

If you have any sort of spiritual decision that you would like to make, you can contact me or any of our staff and we would be glad to talk to you anytime.

There’s no service tonight due to the holiday. Go celebrate with the men in your life. Eat a big steak or something and remember our God and great Father. 

Don’t forget to let the whole world know about VBS. We passed out some door hangers in Bible study classes this morning. We’ll also have some cards you can pass out later. Also, share and like our Facebook post about VBS. 

Also, don’t forget that we have a team going to South Africa today for a mission trip. Pray that God will work through them greatly for the sake of His kingdom!

Finally, my wife and I had a great time representing our church at the SBC annual meeting. It was a great meeting and we’ll tell you all about it next Sunday evening. 

Let’s dismiss by singing the Doxology. 

(Sing Doxology)

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