What do you expect from Jesus? It’s a natural question. If you ask you’ll probably get answers like:
• I expect Jesus to get me out of my tough situations
• I expect Jesus to give me good advice on how to live my life
• I expect Jesus to tell me what I need to do to get to earn my way to heaven
• I expect Jesus will always be nice
• I expect Jesus to be my kind of Savior
• I expect Jesus to share my (moral – political – philosophical) views
• I expect Jesus to give me what I want
• I expect Jesus to be like other religious figures such as Buddha and Mohammed
• I expect Jesus never to rock the boat (“can’t we all just get along?”)
• I expect Jesus to be like my expectations
What do you expect from Jesus? Answering that question has eternal consequences. Here in Chapter 11 we see three different groups or individuals, each with a different expectation for Jesus. The Lord punctures all those expectations then delivers the ultimate truth and the way to get it.
1 – 6 John the Baptist
John’s question is the one every person must answer for themselves—are you the rescuer? John was put in prison by Herod Antipas. While there he apparently started having doubts. He’d baptized Jesus; saw the heavens open and the promise of God—but perhaps Jesus’ actions and words didn’t match up with John’s expectations. Maybe John wanted a judgmental Jesus, or a Messiah who ruled with a rod of iron. After all, he said Jesus would baptize with fire. So he sends some of his disciples over to pose the question publically to Jesus.
Notice Jesus doesn’t just say “yes, I am He.” He wants John, and everyone else, to listen and watch and then come to their own conclusions. What Jesus describes should have resonated with John. It comes from:
Isaiah 35:5-6 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6 then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.
This prophecy is about the kingdom of God. Anyone doing these things must come from God. Jesus adds that the dead are raised and the poor have good news preached to them. That last part comes from Isaiah 61:1. For those that receive Him as He is, they are not offended, but many will be, including many Jews.
For us it comes down to this: who is Jesus and will you be offended by Him or embrace Him?
Jesus did not fit John’s expectations of his kind of Messiah—perhaps by not moving fast enough, but it is John who must adjust. Even so, John would have known that surrounding the 2 passages in Isaiah are allusions to the judging role of the Messiah—so Jesus is affirming to John that He will judge, but perhaps encouraging him that this will happen later.
But lest the people think John is not the last of the Old Testament prophets and a great man, Jesus turns to them and addresses their expectations about John.
7 – 15 Those who heard John
“You were curious about John,” Jesus says. “What did you expect?” A reed shaken by the wind means someone who has no backbone, nothing to stand on. In today’s society that is often what we want—organizations and philosophical systems that will bend to our expectations. John was not such a one.
Then Jesus asks if the people went out to see a man dressed in fine clothes like a king. John was dressed in camel’s hair—not exactly the best most comfortable material. This might also be a subtle cut at the king who was holding John: Herod. But clearly it was not the cunning and undisciplined king that the people came to see—it was a prophet.
John was not just a prophet, but was also the one who inaugurated the Messianic age. Quoting:
Mal 3:1"Behold, I send my messenger and he will prepare the way before me.
Notice Jesus changes the “me” to “you.” This then refers to Jesus as that Messiah.
But notice that even as great as John was—the best of humanity—it isn’t the same as the least of those who have not been offended but receive Jesus as Messiah. That’s because the best man has to offer has been tainted by sin—even John was born in sin. Jesus puts to rest the argument that by being really really good we can earn a place in God’s kingdom.
This next phrase is a little difficult to interpret. I think the best way to understand it is that since John inaugurated the coming of the Messiah, that same Messiah—Jesus has come with power—and powerful forces of darkness are arrayed to try and stop it.
Verses 13 – 15 say that all that came before—all the revelation by God pointed to and was prelude to Jesus. Every page of the Old Testament speaks of Him. In John, Jesus spoke to the religious leaders of the Jews about the Old Testament’s purpose: John 5:39-40 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.
John, like Elijah, came forcefully to point an obstinate and disobedient people back to God. Northern Israel in Elijah’s time was not worshiping Yahweh. The people of Jesus’ time thought they were, but because their worship did not lead them to the Messiah spoken of in the Scriptures, their worship was really of their own efforts and was bent to their own expectations.
16 – 19 Israeli People (This Generation)
This is all about failed expectations. John the Baptist was an ascetic—his diet was restricted and his message somber—yet that didn’t seem to move the people to repentance. Jesus came eating a normal diet, going to dinner at people’s houses, preaching a gospel of peace—and that didn’t move the Jews either.
Some people will never be satisfied. If you say “black” they’ll say “white.” In the end it is not by fulfilling expectations or answering every argument or satisfying every curiosity that will bring someone to salvation. The problem is that we would rather serve ourselves rather than God. Having someone else Lord of our lives is really against the human nature which was infected with Satanic Selfishness at the Fall.
As far as “wisdom is justified by her deeds” – no matter what anyone’s opinion is, the truth is that Jesus is actually the Messiah. We need to begin to move our expectations in line with ultimate truth.
Speaking of deeds—Jesus did many of them in cities around Judea. Just as He was rejected by individual Jews, He was also rejected by entire communities.
20 – 24 Israeli Cities
Both Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum were Galilean cities. Tyre and Sidon were Phoenician cities known for wickedness—destroyed by the Assyrians and Alexander the Great. Sodom was located near the Dead Sea and was destroyed by an angel in Genesis 19. Jesus’ demonstration of power in those cities would have resulted in repentance. So why isn’t it in His own country? Being around Jesus isn’t enough. Being around Christians isn’t enough. You have to make a personal decision.
The greatest demonstration of power Jesus did was the resurrection. How do we react to that?
25 – 30 What you should expect
Jesus starts out by thanking God that the truth about Him has been hidden. That might seem counterintuitive but the point is that you cannot reach the real truth about Jesus by using your own expectations as a filter. Your intellect alone will not lead you to Jesus because without the redeeming presence of the Holy Spirit in your life, intellectualism leads to pride and pride is like a virus shield against knowing God.
Jesus says these things have been revealed to “little children” in that people who are willing to listen to what Jesus says and watch what he does without preconception are more likely to see Him for who He really is and what He is really doing.
And what is He saying and doing? That’s what we find in verses 27 – 30.
1. Jesus is the center of the universe
Phil 2:9-11 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (See also Isaiah 45:23).
And Jesus holds all the keys to the knowledge of God.
2. Jesus is the only way to God
To “know” here means an intimate relationship. Jesus is not just a great prophet. He has a communal relationship with the Father than no else will ever have. The only way to know the Father is if His Son Jesus chooses to reveal Him—it is by invitation only.
So how do you get invited? By listening to Jesus’ words and realizing that need Him more than you need yourself.
Verses 28 and 29 remind me of Isaiah:
Isaiah 55:1-3 Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.
We try to create a life that has meaning and purpose. But the more we work the more we should realize it is in vain.
Eccl 1:14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. Whether it is pleasure, beauty, profit, power, or intelligence—in the end it comes to nothing. Eccl 3:19
For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other.
But not with Jesus. If you are laden down with guilt—come. If you are burdened with sin—come. If you are under the weight of works that don’t really amount to anything—come. If you work so hard to be good but know you have failed—come.
What is Jesus command?
1. Come to Me (and no one else)
2. Take His yoke (which is easy and light because He did it all)
3. Learn (grow and enjoy your relationship with Him)
4. Rest (no more striving, only trust and reliance on Him rather than you)
Conclusions
In the end, you need to let Jesus imprint on you, rather than you imprint on Him. We want him to fit into our preconceived ideas like one of those wooden puzzle pieces. If He doesn’t fit our mold we try to force Him in. Jesus said “he who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Are you listening for Jesus to present Himself as He is, not how you want Him to be?
What do you expect from Jesus? Expect challenge to your status quo. Expect a new Lord. Expect rest and peace.
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