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And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: the blind receive their sight 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. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” 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? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.’ 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.”(Matthew 11:2–11)
Jesus asked the crowd, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments?
What did the people see? They did not see a preacher wearing a nice suit and tie. Instead, John was dressed in animal skins and camel's hair. He wore a leather belt around his waist.
What did the people see? They did not see a clean cut preacher living in luxury. Instead, John ate locusts and wild honey.
What did the people see? They did not see a television camera, a rock band, or an auditorium. Instead, they saw a dry desert. The wilderness was John's pulpit.
John never published a book. He never appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show. He was never on the cover of Time or Newsweek. He never won a Nobel Peace prize. He never drove a flashy car. And yet, Jesus says that John was great.
What message did the people hear? They did not hear a message of prosperity. They did not hear a message which made them feel good. They did not hear a message of tolerance. They did not hear a message which was guided by the political polls. Instead, they heard a message of law and Gospel. John spoke with conviction and courage. He was not like a reed shaken by the wind.
What message did the people hear? John was not afraid to convict his audience of sin. He called them to repentance. He said, “Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.” John was the voice of one crying in the wilderness, “Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight.” John told his audience to renounce the old way of life and to turn from their sin because a new era of salvation is present. John not only preached the stark law revealing sin, but he also preached the sweet Gospel for the forgiveness of sins.
And sure enough, some people confessed their sins and were baptized. They believed that the promised Messiah was on the horizon. Their lives were changed. They loved one another.
But others rejected John's message and they did not submit to John's baptism, because they thought that they had no sin which needed to be forgiven. John called the unrepentant a “brood of vipers” and warned them of the wrath to come. He called them to bear fruits worthy of repentance. He also warned them saying, “The ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore if you do not bear good fruit then you will be cut down and will be thrown into the fire of God's wrath” (Matthew 3:10). John went on to talk about the coming Messiah who will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire (Matthew 3:12).
At one time, Herod was shacking up with his estranged sister–in–law. So, John accused Herod of committing adultery. As a result, John was imprisoned.
There he is in prison, all alone with plenty of time to think. Is Jesus the Coming One or not? Will Jesus cut down the wicked Pharisees and throw them into the fire of God's wrath or not? Will Jesus burn them up in the unquenchable fire or not? Will Jesus rescue me from prison or not? Was John's preaching successful or not?
What do you think about Jesus? In America it goes something like this: Get Jesus, and you'll be healthy. Make Jesus the Lord of your life, and you will be wealthy. Get Jesus, and your life will be turned around. You will no longer have any problems.
But there we sit, like John in prison with one problem after another. You have trouble in the family or in the marriage. Your children are rebellious. You lost a friend. You failed a test. You are sick. The stress level is pretty high especially during this busy shopping season. You have sinned against God and the neighbor. You are getting older. Death draws near. Things don't go our way. We believe, but we begin to have doubts.
Moses questioned God. He said, “O Lord, why have you brought trouble upon this people? Is this why you sent me? Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble upon this people, and you have not rescued your people at all” (Exodus 5:22–23). At one time, Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. He said to God, “I am the only prophet left and now they are trying to kill me too” (1 Kings 19:10). The prophet Jeremiah once said, “Cursed be the day I was born. Why did I ever come out of the womb to see trouble and sorrow and to end my days in shame?” (Jeremiah 20:14, 18).
Prophets of old — sinful as they were — doubted and questioned God, including John the Baptist who Jesus calls one of the greatest prophets. Even we — sinful as we are — sometimes doubt and question God.
In times of trouble we will ask, “Where are you God? Do you still love me? Why am I going through difficult times?” For us to have anxiety, worry, or doubt does not mean that we have lost faith. It simply means that we have a sinful flesh and that we live in a sinful world.
Jesus, are you the Savior or not? Do we go shopping around for someone else? There are plenty of other gods on sale. No! Don't look for another Savior.
Jesus answered and said, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: the blind receive their sight 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.” In other words: “John, I am the promised Messiah. The miracles that are performed prove that I am the Christ. Isaiah, Chapters 35 and 61, are being fulfilled. John, things will be alright with you. You have been a very faithful prophet. Even if death was to come, you will be raised up on the last day. May the Word be a source of comfort and peace during this difficult time for you.”
As time went on, John was beheaded by Herod at the request of his daughter.
It's time now for Jesus to die. So, on Palm Sunday Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey. Later that week, Judas betrays him. The disciples flee. Peter denies him. The soldiers beat Jesus. Pilate sentences Jesus to be crucified. The soldiers hammer spikes into His hands and feet. They hang His body on the cross. Jesus suffers.
You think that you have problems in your life? Jesus suffered more than what we ever go through. On the cross, Jesus is your Savior. He is your King. He is the Messiah. Jesus dies for you and for your salvation.
Is the cross scandalous? Is it outrageous? Yes, it is! But Jesus said, “Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” The message of the cross may not be appealing to the world, but it is the power of your salvation. In Christ, you are forgiven. In Christ, you are blessed.
As believers in Christ, we will have problems. But God is still in control. If God can bring an Easter out of a Good Friday, then all things will work out together for your good. He does love you. He forgives you all your sin. Just as the Word brought comfort and peace to John even on his death bed, so also, God's life giving Word brings comfort and peace to you.
The Good News is that, because of the cross and open tomb, our warfare with death is ended. Our iniquity is pardoned, and we have received from the Lord's hand double grace for all our sin. Therefore, we are comforted. Yes, comforted with a peace which the world cannot give.
So, is Jesus really the Christ or do we look elsewhere? Don't look elsewhere. Jesus is the Christ, true God and true man. He is the only one you need.
Jesus is still the “Coming One.” He comes to you today. His Gospel removes your doubts and fills you with faith. He gives your troubled lives peace. And He replaces your hopeless spirit with comfort. The sacrificed Lamb even comes to take away your sins by giving you His true body and blood. In this meal you will be refreshed. You will be given pardon and peace — a peace which the world cannot give.
So, why did you come here this morning? If you came to hear about a Savior born in Bethlehem, then you came to the right place. If you came to hear about Jesus — the lamb of God who died for your sin, who bore the wrath of God in your place, and who rose on Easter morn — then you've come to the right place.
Why do you come here Sunday after Sunday? You come in repentance, confessing your sins and receiving God's forgiveness. You come to be fed with God's Word. You come to hear not only God's law but also about God's love for you in Christ Jesus. The Good News is that the guilt of your sin was paid for by the shedding of Christ's blood upon the cross. You come to receive Christ's body and blood for the forgiveness of all your sin. You come to thank our Lord through Word and song for all that He has done for you. You come to receive comfort and strength.
And so, rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Rejoice, your Lord is at hand! Blessed is He who comes, even now, in the name of the Lord. Amen.
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