You have seen them—an optical illusion. There are different kinds. But one of them is when you look at a picture and it messes with your eyes. [Note that there was a slide up front in worship with such an optical illusion.] What is it—two faces looking at each other or a vase standing in the middle? Or both? (Do you need a few minutes or are you good?)
This is made up. But there could also be an “auricular illusion.” A noise that misleads your ears. Was that a train or tornado? It is pretty important to know the difference. One has a horn as it runs down the tracks; the other has a siren before it rips up the neighborhood.
Either way, things are not always what they seem—to our eyes or to our ears. Sights can be deceptive and sounds can be deceiving.
John the Baptizer had seen and heard things. And he had some questions and concerns. Who was Jesus? Another man or anointed Messiah? Jesus dispels doubt with God’s Word in his words to John and in his words about John. We read from …
Matthew 11:2-11
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, the One who was to come and the One who is to come,
Does it cross your mind when you are shopping for or while you are wrapping up a Christmas present: Will he wear it? Will she like it? There is that hint of uncertainty.
It is not until we hear, “I love this.” Or “I wanted this,” that we are sure. It is not just hearing the reaction, but seeing the excitement. That removes any reservation.
Jesus does that for John, not with a present, but about his purpose.
Jesus Dispels Doubt with God’s Word
1. In his words to John (2-6)
2. In his words about John (7-11)
1. In his words to John (2-6)
So then we have Christmas wish lists. Then you know what your children or spouse has in mind for the holidays. That saves from spinning in circles in stores, wasting time. Perhaps I am not a hopeless romantic, just hopeless, when it comes to what goes beneath a tree. But this way you have some ideas in print and in in hand. There is no guesswork. Jesus didn’t want John to deliberate any more. Jesus dispels doubt with God’s Word in his words to John.
John had time to think. He was no longer in the desert, but in a dungeon. No more open spaces. Instead an oppressive cell. It was because he was brave and bold enough to call Herod Antipas on his latest marriage (or better his recent adultery). Herod had convinced Herodias to leave his brother Philip and live with him. This is not a plot line for a Hollywood movie or harlequin romance, but real life and wrong actions. Herod got angry and John got imprisoned.
News started to trickle in to John in jail. (This is long before internet or Instagram.) As he learned about Jesus’ ministry, “what Christ was doing” (Mt 11:2)—the miracles he performed and the sermons that he preached (Mt 11:1), there were some misgivings.
John had announced the One who would chop with a tool: “The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
John had advertised the One who would char the husks: “His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Mt 3:10,11).
Where were these mighty acts of judgment? There were only works and words of mercy. Like Elijah before him—another great man of God who hit a wall and hid under a broom tree, wanting to die (1 Ki 19:4), there was a twinge of disappointment or disillusionment. “Have I strived and struggled for nothing? Why am I here?”
But instead of wallowing in discouragement, John dispatched some of his disciples: “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Mt 11:3). “Are you the ‘Coming One’ (that was code for the Messiah, the Christ), or should we be wait for and look for someone else?” It is like you are undecided about what to buy for that someone special: “Maybe I should try a different store or different size.”
John went to the right place and the right person—Jesus. And so did Jesus. He took John back to the prophet Isaiah in God’s Word to build up his fearful heart (Is 35:3,4). “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor” (Mt 11:5; Is 35:5,6). These were the very things that they were seeing with their eyes and hearing with their ears. He didn’t just claim, “I am the Messiah.” But he contended, “I am doing the work of the Messiah—what was written about me.” They just had to check the facts, not their feelings. If you were to ask someone, “Are you an artist?,” a person could point to portraits or paintings as well as the write-ups or reviews online.
Those kind of mighty miracles are recorded in Scripture for us. It is like watching the highlight reel of an athlete after a big game. Some of their names are noted, others not.
Blind Bartimaeus became seeing Bartimaeus (Mk 10:46). The sunsets and the starlight around Jericho must have been exiting to view.
The paralytic whom his buddies let down through the roof went home walking out the door (Mk 2:12). I can’t help but think he did a light jog and a quick sprint.
Ten lepers who no longer had scaly skin changed their address from outside of the city to inside of it (Lk 17:11ff.). I bet they hugged and held their family tightly for a few weeks.
The man for whom Jesus cried out “Ephphatha!”—“Be Opened.” And his ears were (Mk 7:31ff.). He may not have complained about noise.
Jesus brought Jairus’ 12-year-old daughter back from the dead. Add the widow’s son from Nain and Lazarus in Bethany (Lk 7:11ff.; Jn 11). That would have made the headlines of any newsfeed.
There were those who came to Jesus with nothing in their hands, as spiritual beggars, who heard good news (cf. Is 61:1). Jesus had come to dole out eternal riches—forgiveness of sins and peace with God.
Jesus reminded John of that—in fulfillment of Scripture. And then he encouraged him: “Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me” (Mt 11:6).
Are there times when we get disgusted with Jesus because he doesn’t do this or that? He just doesn’t meet our expectations. The devil delights in such doubt which can only lead to despair. “Doesn’t Jesus care? Can he help me? I feel unforgiven or unloved.”
What do we do? We go to Jesus. Notice that he didn’t scold or scream at John. “What more do I have to do for you, John?” And not to us either. But we go back to the Word so we don’t trip on him, but trust in him. He is the Christ, the One who came. Soon we will review the messenger of God as he makes known that message from God: “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (Lk 2:11). Jesus has rescued us from our sins. Out of love, he came to this earth to die in our place. With his power, he rose from the dead. He will exercise that same concern and ability to wake us up from death and welcome us to eternal life.
In the meantime we wait with the patience and perseverance that James encouraged us—like a farmer and a prophet (Ja 5:7-11). He is coming again for us to give us the crown of life on his own timetable and timeframe (Re 2:10). We are happy as we anticipate both of those arrivals on Christmas Day and on the Last Day with eagerness. Until then he firms up our faith with his Word. Jesus dispels doubt with God’s Word in his words to John. By believing in Jesus, we have life in his name (Jn 20:31).
2. In his words about John (7-11)
A Christmas list is handy to pass along to grandparents or relatives. (Or a spreadsheet of some sort if the child is computer literate.) So those individuals are aware of the suggestions. Jesus didn’t want people to speculate about John. Jesus dispels doubt with God’s Word in his words about John.
As the men walk away, Jesus doesn’t want the people to get the wrong idea or impression of John. He holds John in high regard. They were to do the same. That is the reason of the probing questions: “What did you go out into the desert to see?” (Mt 11:7). They were attentive spectators, but not of a freak show. “A reed swayed by the wind?” (Mt 11:7). No. John was not frail or fickle, but full of conviction and courage with his “Repent” (Mt 3:2) and “brood of vipers” (Mt 3:7). Not a great way to win friends by calling them “offspring of snakes.” He didn’t change his message every time the wind blew like what happens to a plant going back and forth in a breeze. They would not have journeyed out to a deserted dessert for that. John pointed out their sin and pointed to their Savior. He did it right and did it well.
But they did make their way out. “If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces” (Mt 11:8). [Slide 18] It was not for a fashion show. John dressed the part of a prophet like Elijah before him (2 Ki 1:8). If you got close enough to him you could get a feel of camel hair. As a bonus you could catch a whiff of barbequed locusts along with the scent of honey. Go to royal residences for fancy clothes.
Then why? “Then what did you go out to see? A prophet?” (Mt 11:9). Now there is the answer—a prophet, a spokesman, a mouthpiece of God. But that is not all: “Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet” (Mt 11:9). Malachi had predicted his arrival on the scene 400 years before: “This is the one about whom it is written: ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare the way before you’” (Mt 11:10; cf. Mal 3:1). And John was faithful to his calling—tearing down the mountains of pride and filling in the potholes of gloom.
And so Jesus’ high praise is not out of place as he states with seriousness since it is correct: “I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist” (Mt 11:11). Only one had that role and responsibility. It was John. It wasn’t the Messiah to come in the future. For John, it was the Messiah has come in the flesh. “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29). And now there he was—the One who would pick up and carry off the guilt of all. God’s word communicated about John. Jesus removes doubt with that Word in his words about John. We still heed his Advent cry to turn from our sin and to our Savior as we continue to peer into the manger on Christmas Day and peek at the clouds for the Last Day.
Jesus concludes with an interesting comment: “Yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he” (Mt 11:11). Jesus is not taking anything away or back from John. But we have a distinct advantage over John. John never lived long enough to see the Lamb lay down his life only to take it up again. Herod’s executioner sliced John’s neck and separated it from his body. After a seductive dance by his niece Salome at his birthday party, Herod didn’t turn red, he turned generous: “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom” (Mk 6:23). “Anything” became John’s head. And on a silver platter as an extra special touch.
What others longed to see (Mt 13:16,17), we live to see. We can easily page though the Bible and go from crib to cross, from birth to burial. And then three days later, we hear the angel’s proclamation: “He is not here; he has risen” (Mt 28:6). True God became true man, humbled himself to head to the cross (Php 2:8)—born to bear our sins. But he lives, ascended on high. We watch him go up to heaven and wait for him to come back from heaven (Acts 1:9-11). We know because we have his Word. Jesus dispels doubt with God’s Word in his words about John. We have a clear view of the work of the Christ who substituted his life for ours and satisfied God’s anger over our sins.
Sometimes you can stare at the lines of an optical illusion and speculate if they are all straight. Or are they crooked? [Note again that there was a slide on the screen in the front of church.] Or you are sitting with someone and you ask, “Did you say something.” And they respond with a “No.” That is what I label an “auricular illusion.” (You don’t have to buy into that one. I will give you some time.) We have seen with our eyes in print and heard with our ears in speech what the Christ has done and will do. We have not been duped. Jesus dispels doubt in his words to John. He is the Christ, the Coming One. He did what the Old Testament declared. And Jesus dispels doubt in his words about John. He was a great prophet, the forerunner of the Christ. Jesus appeared and will reappear. We have it all in God’s Word. There is no doubt about it. Amen.
Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen (2 Pe 3:18).
December 11, 2016
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