Jesus Is Who Isaiah Said He Would Be, And John Too

12.11.22 Matthew 11:2-11

2 While John was in prison, he heard about the things Christ was doing. He sent two of his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the Coming One or should we wait for someone else?”

4 Jesus answered them, “Go, report to John what you hear and see: 5 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. 6 Blessed is the one who does not take offense at me.”

7 As 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? 8 What did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? No, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9 So what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you! And he is much more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written, ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ 11 Amen I tell you: Among those born of women there has not appeared anyone greater than John the Baptist. Yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Jesus is Who Isaiah Said He Would Be, and John Too

The young man thought he had bought the perfect gift for his wife for Christmas. He was so excited to give it to her. It was some pickleball paddles and balls. He had heard what a fun game it was. When they got out on the court, the wife was having a great time! She was really good at it, and so were their kids. But she and the kids kept on beating him time and again. He started wishing he never got his wife the gift. Might this be a picture of what happens to John the Baptist when Jesus finally gets unwrapped for the world to see?

At first, everything was going according to plan. People were repenting of their sins and coming into the wilderness to be baptized. Yet only after a year or two into Jesus’ ministry, things took a turn for the worse. Herod Antipas had taken his step brother Philip’s wife as his own, and John publicly condemned him for it. Herod didn’t like it, so he had John arrested. John had to spend Advent in prison. This was his reward for telling the truth. He was no longer allowed to preach or baptize as he was doing before.

John had been warning people that the ax was at the root of the tree. He spoke of repentance and judgment to come. And what was Jesus doing? He wasn’t chopping anything down. Jesus was going to weddings and eating with tax collectors. He was healing people and telling people they were forgiven. This wasn’t what John or his disciples seemed to be expecting. This led John to ask, “Are you the One?” John was either asking for himself, his disciples, or both. They asked this right in front of the entire crowd! It might seem to be a public confrontation in a sense. It could have been embarrassing to Jesus.

Have you had those moments, when a prayer wasn’t answered? When life didn’t turn out like you had planned? It reminds me of Job’s moments of anguish when he was suffering. In a moment of weakness and anger, you blurt it out. “What’s going on?!? I wonder if God really does hate me. Is this for real!?! Are YOU for real?!?” You’re so angry that you don’t care who hears it. You said it. You meant it. You wanted some answers.

And what does Jesus do? Does He call them to the side and say in a whispered tone, “Whoa! Calm down there. How dare you question my authenticity in front of everyone! You better back off right now or I’ll condemn every last one of you!” That’s what under confident people do when they are questioned. They get angry and defensive. “What are you saying?!?” But when you know who you are and you know you’re doing the right thing, you simply answer the challenge in a cool and calm way.

So what does Jesus do? He doesn’t say a THING, not at first. If you read this story in Luke 7, Luke writes, “At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind.” Imagine the procession of people coming before Jesus. Some bent over. Others holding their stomachs or their heads or their backs. Some being carried in on stretchers, barely breathing. People shrieking and yelling and foaming at the mouth. One by one, Jesus has them brought before Him and He heals son and daughter, young and old, immediately. Nobody is sent away. Imagine the aftermath of the healing, people smiling and jumping and crying for joy. John’s disciples would be watching this whole scene unfold before them.