John’s Gospel #2 Between Prison and the Platter
CHCC: January 13, 2008
John 2, 3
INTRODUCTION:
Now I know this is hard to believe, but I’m about to quote a little 4 year old who is NOT one of my grandkids. One day a mom asked her little girl what the picture she drew after Church was supposed to be. It looked like a bunch of brown scribbles and some kind of big green thing sticking up. The little girl said, “Well, this is the wilderness, and that’s John the Cactus.”
Today, we’re going to talk about John the Cactus. Dallas preached about John the Baptist a couple of weeks back, but there is plenty left to say. Here’s what Jesus had to say about him: I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist … Matthew 11:11
John himself was a miracle baby born to an elderly priest, Zechariah, and his wife Elizabeth. Elizabeth was Mary’s aunt --- and while both women were pregnant, Mary went to visit her Aunt. Here’s what happened. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:41
1. John’s testimony about Jesus
John refers to John the Baptist several times in the first 3 chapters of His Gospel. Since both men are named John, it can get confusing. When I went on a mission trip to Russia several years back, one of the preachers there had earned the nickname J. the B. because of his unusual baptizing style. He would submerge the candidate back into the water three times so rapidly that they came up from the watter sputtering and looking disoriented (and perhaps with whiplash)
So I may use "J the B" to refer to John the Baptist just to avoid confusing him with John the apostle.
J the B lived in the desert of Judea; he wore camel-hair clothes (not the height of fashion even in the desert); he ate locusts swimming in wild honey; and he preached, “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is near!” Needless to say, he was NOT your typical Priest. Priests wore pure, white linen … not animal hair coats. Priests ate Kosher, purified foods … not insects. The Religious leaders were very suspicious of J the B. They were angry that he was drawing big crowds out there in the wilderness. It probably didn’t help anything that his favorite nickname for the religious leaders was “brood of vipers.”
John 1 tells what J the B said about Himself when a group of priests and Levites asked him who he was. What they really wanted to know was, “Who gives you the authority to tell Jews they need to repent and be baptized” You see, water baptism was not unknown to them. But baptism was reserved for Gentiles who wanted to convert to Judaism. Jews were already God’s chosen people. What right did this barbarian preacher have to tell Jewish people that THEY needed to repent and be baptized?
John answered by quoting Isaiah 40:3 “"I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ’Make straight the way for the Lord.’ " John 1:26 Then he told them, "I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie." John 1:26-27
The next day, John the Baptist saw Jesus nearby and he announced, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! John explained how he KNEW Jesus was the one. God had told him, ’The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God." John 1:29, 33-34
J the B … this outspoken, rough looking, homeless man … was the one God chose to introduce Jesus Christ to the world. As soon as John introduced him, Jesus started his ministry. And the crowds divided. Some stayed with J the B, and others went to Jesus. What would you predict would happen next? Exactly! Some of J the B’s followers got jealous because their followers were switching allegiance. They came to John and complained, "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him." John 1:26
John’s reply shows why he deserved the high praise that Jesus gave him. He answered,
"A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ’I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice.
That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less. John 1:27-30
John knew that his success came completely from God, not from his own efforts. John knew who he was and he knew his purpose in God’s kingdom. He saw himself as the “best man” and Jesus as the bridegroom. John was not the least bit jealous of Jesus’ ministry. In fact, John was filled with JOY to see Jesus become greater as he became less.
J the B was bold. In fact you could say he was fearless enough that some people thought he was crazy. He took on the Religious Establishment. He took on the Political Rulers. He proclaimed the Kingdom of God. He was the first witness to testify that Jesus was the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
So how was it that, just a few months later, this fearless preacher sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” Matthew 11:2 If anyone was sure who Jesus was, it was J the B. He had known who Jesus was when he was still in his mother’s womb! He spent His life testifying about Jesus --- but now John was asking Jesus to testify to Him.
2. Jesus’ testimony to John
We don’t have to think too hard to figure out why John had lost confidence. John was in prison. Herod arrested John and put him in prison to satisfy Herodias. Herod was having an affair with her. And what made it even worse, Herodias was the wife of Herod’s brother. In his usual blunt way, John called it for what it was. Herod wanted to kill John, but John was popular with the people because they thought he was a Prophet of God. And some part of Herod thought that might be true.
If you know the whole story, you know that in the end Herodias and her dancing daughter demanded John’s execution. John was beheaded and his head was presented to Herodias on a platter. That is the backdrop of John’s troubles when he asked Jesus, are you REALLY the One? You could say John was living between Prison and the Platter.
I want to take some time with this; because we have a lesson to learn from what J the B went through. Living between Prison and the Platter means those times in life when every posibility looks bad. You can’t see any alternative that looks good. It’s bad now and it’s headed for worse. Maybe you’ve been there. Maybe you’re there right now. In our low moments we just want Jesus to ride in on a white charger and miraculously fix it all for us. We wonder why He isn’t helping us.
You can take heart from the fact that even John felt the dark pull of fear and doubt when he was between Prison and the Platter. If anyone could expect Jesus to drop everything and come to his aid it would be J the B. He had always been there for Jesus. He’d given all he had for Jesus. He couldn’t help but wonder where Jesus was when he really needed him. Was Jesus indifferent to John’s problems? Was Jesus REALLY the Messiah as John believed?
When Jesus received this inquiry from John’s disciples, this is the answer He gave: “Go back and tell John what you hear and see: 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. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.” Matthew 11:4-6
Here’s the interesting thing. John the Baptist already knew what Jesus was doing. Matthew 11 says, When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, "Are you the one … Matthew 11:2-3 John knew Jesus was working miracles every day. So Jesus was really just repeating what John already knew. Here’s what was making it hard for John: all those wonderful miracles were for OTHER people. None of the miracles were helping John personally. He was left to suffer while other people’s dreams were coming true. I think what John was asking was “I know you’re answering prayers, but are you going to help ME?”
Have you ever felt that way? It’s not really that you lose faith in Jesus. But you ask God, What about me? Why are you answering other people’s prayers but ignoring mine? Why are you letting this happen to me?
In John’s case, even though he was in Prison, Prison was exactly where he had to be in order to fulfill God’s purpose for his life. Why would Jesus save Him from that? Jesus did not come to save us from every earthly pain or trial. He came to save us from a meaningless life.
John understood so much about the Messiah … more than anyone else at that time. Most people were looking for a Political messiah, but John didn’t say, Look, there’s the Messiah who will overcome the Roman oppressors. John said, Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
And John understood his own place in the Kingdom of God. He knew he had accomplished his life purpose. He was fine with the fact that "Jesus must increase while I must decrease." But I expect John thought he would be an important part of Jesus’ Ministry. Things weren’t turning out the way he expected.
Life is full of surprises… some good, some bad. God doesn’t give any of us a blueprint about the why’s and wherefores of our lives. And when bad things happen, we very naturally want to know WHY … especially if God doesn’t rescue us from our troubles.
When you feel like J the B … when you are between Prison and the Platter, remember the testimony Jesus gave to John. Look at verse 6: Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.
Reminds me of the Beatitudes. …
A personal Beatitude for John. …
It was what John needed to hear, and there are times when it’s what you and I need to hear. You KNOW who Jesus is. You’ve seen His miracles. He’s answered your prayers. You’ve experienced his Salvation.
So, when you feel like you are between Prison and the Platter … when your faith feels shaky and you don’t understand why God is not helping you … remember this: You will be BLESSED if you continue to TRUST Jesus to the end. Your suffering does NOT mean His blessing has left you. You are BLESSED if you do not fall away from Him.
CONCLUSION:
Here’s one more interesting thing about Jesus’ testimony to John. Right after John’s disciples got their answer from Jesus, Matthew 11:7 says, As these men went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John … Jesus then began to praise John and his ministry.
I have no doubt John’s men paused and listened. I know I would have! If they did, they heard Jesus say, Among those born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has appeared (v. 11)
I think that’s the best kind of compliment you can ever get – the kind that is overheard and spoken in front of others. I have a feeling they told John everything Jesus said about him; and I have a feeling that was exactly what John needed to hear.
When YOU are between Prison and the Platter … remember that Jesus is WITH you in your Prison. He will send you a beatitude that is custom made for you. He will give you just the kind of encouragement and assurance that you need. And even if the worst happens, He will go with you every step of the way.
