THE TEMPTATION OF PESSIMISM
MATTHEW 11:2-6
IT IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY EASY TO FALL INTO THE TRAP OF PESSIMISM IN OUR WORLD. THE NUMBER OF EVIL THINGS IN THE WORLD CONTINUES TO INCREASE, AND AS IT DOES WE MAY FALL INTO THE TRAP OF SAYING “THAT’S JUST THE WAY THINGS ARE, AND WE MIGHT AS WELL GET USED TO IT.”
THE ULTIMATE RESULT IS THAT WE FALL PREY TO PESSIMISM, AND BECOME SO FULL OF THE NEGATIVE SIDE OF THE WORLD, THAT WE FAIL TO SEE THE POSITIVE BLESSINGS THAT GOD HAS FOR US.
CONSIDER THE DEFINITION OF PESSIMISM.
ONE WRITER STATES: “PESSIMISM IS A FEELING OR BELIEF THAT BAD THINGS WILL HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE: A FEELING OR BELIEF THAT WHAT YOU HOPE FOR WILL NOT HAPPEN.
AN ENGLISH DEFINITION STATES THAT PESSIMISM IS THE EMPHASIZING OR THINKING OF THE BAD PART OF A SITUATION RATHER THAN THE GOOD PART, OR THE FEELING THAT BAD THINGS ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAPPEN THAN GOOD THINGS.
WEBSTER DEFINES IT AS:
1. THE TENDENCY TO EXPECT THE WORST AND SEE THE WORST IN ALL THINGS
2. THE DOCTRINE OF THE ULTIMATE TRIUMPH OF EVIL OVER GOOD
3. THE DOCTRINE THAT THIS WORLD IS CORRUPT AND THAT MAN'S SOJOURN IN IT IS A PREPARATION FOR SOME OTHER EXISTENCE.
THE WORLD OF THE PESSIMIST IS A VERY DARK WORLD, WITH LITTLE TO BE HAPPY ABOUT, LITTLE TO PLACE THEIR FAITH IN. CHRISTIANS ARE NOT IMMUNE TO PESSIMISM, AND IN MANY CASES IT WILL COME OUT AS LEGALISM IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER. THE CRY OF THE CHRISTIAN PESSIMIST IS “THOU SHALT NOT.”
JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS IN A POSITION IN OUR PASSAGE TODAY, TO EASILY FALL INTO THE TRAP OF PESSIMISM. WHEN WE CONSIDER HOW IMPORTANT JOHN WAS BEFORE AND AT THE BEGINNING OF JESUS’ MINISTRY, AND WHERE WE FIND HIM IN THIS PASSAGE, THE WORDS OF 2 SAMUEL 1:25 COME TO MIND.
2 SAMUEL 1:25: YOUR MIGHTY MEN HAVE FALLEN
BY WAY OF CONTEXT, LET US BEGIN BY STUDYING THE LIFE OF JOHN THE BAPTIST UP TO THIS POINT. JOHN WAS TO BE THE LAST PROPHET OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, AND THE FIRST EVANGELIST IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.
MATTHEW 3:1-3 IN THOSE DAYS JOHN THE BAPTIST CAME AND PREACHED IN THE DESERT OF JUDEA. 2HE SAID, “TURN AWAY FROM YOUR SINS! THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NEAR.” 3JOHN IS THE ONE THE PROPHET ISAIAH HAD SPOKEN ABOUT. HE HAD SAID, “A MESSENGER IS CALLING OUT IN THE DESERT, ‘PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE LORD. MAKE STRAIGHT PATHS FOR HIM.’ ” (ISAIAH 40:3)
JOHN’S POPULARITY WAS GREAT WHEN HE FIRST STARTED. HE PREACHED A MESSAGE OF REPENTANCE AND BAPTISM FOR THE REMISSION ON SINS. JOHN THE BAPTIST ANNOUNCED THE KINGDOM OF GOD, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT ESTABLISHED IT WAS PREACHED.
JOHN WAS THE FORERUNNER OF THE MESSIAH AND THE FIRST PROCLAIMER OF THE KINGDOM. WITHOUT THE PREPARATION OF JOHN, JESUS COULD NOT EVEN HAVE BEGUN HIS MINISTRY. JOHN WAS THE TRANSITION POINT – FROM THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS (THE OLD TESTAMENT) TO THE FULFILMENT IN THE MESSIAH. HIS IMPORTANCE THEN WAS BEYOND ALL MEASURE.
ONE WRITER STATES:
“JOHN WAS NOT A “POPULAR PREACHER” WHO CATERED TO THE CROWD, NOR WAS HE A REED IN THE WIND WHO VACILLATED WITH EVERY CHANGE. HE WAS A MAN OF CONVICTION AND COURAGE, THE GREATEST OF THE PROPHETS. THE FACT THAT JOHN WAS PRIVILEGED TO ANNOUNCE THE MESSIAH GAVE HIM THIS HIGH POSITION. HIS MINISTRY MARKED THE CLIMAX OF THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS.”
JESUS SAID OF JOHN:
MATTHEW 11:14-15: 14IF YOU ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT IT, JOHN IS THE ELIJAH WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO COME. 15THOSE WHO HAVE EARS SHOULD LISTEN.
JESUS’ COMPARISON OF ELIJAH AND JOHN IS VERY APPROPRIATE. THE SCRIPTURES DECLARE THAT JOHN CAME IN THE SPIRIT AND POWER OF ELIJAH.
LUKE 1:13-17:
13BUT THE ANGEL SAID TO HIM, “DO NOT BE AFRAID, ZECHARIAH. YOUR PRAYER HAS BEEN HEARD. YOUR WIFE ELIZABETH WILL HAVE A CHILD. IT WILL BE A BOY, AND YOU MUST NAME HIM JOHN. 14HE WILL BE A JOY AND DELIGHT TO YOU. HIS BIRTH WILL MAKE MANY PEOPLE VERY GLAD. 15HE WILL BE IMPORTANT IN THE LORD’S EYES.
“HE MUST NEVER USE WINE OR OTHER SUCH DRINKS. HE WILL BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT FROM THE TIME HE IS BORN. 16HE WILL BRING MANY OF ISRAEL’S PEOPLE BACK TO THE LORD THEIR GOD. 17AND HE WILL PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE LORD. HE WILL HAVE THE SAME SPIRIT AND POWER THAT ELIJAH HAD. HE WILL TEACH PARENTS HOW TO LOVE THEIR CHILDREN. HE WILL ALSO TEACH PEOPLE WHO DON’T OBEY TO BE WISE AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT. IN THIS WAY, HE WILL PREPARE A PEOPLE WHO ARE READY FOR THE LORD.”
JOHN DRESSED AND MINISTERED LIKE ELIJAH:
MATTHEW 3:4: JOHN’S CLOTHES WERE MADE OUT OF CAMEL’S HAIR. HE HAD A LEATHER BELT AROUND HIS WAIST. HIS FOOD WAS LOCUSTS AND WILD HONEY.
2 KINGS 1:7-8:
7THE KING ASKED THEM, “WHAT KIND OF MAN CAME TO SEE YOU? WHO TOLD YOU THOSE THINGS?” 8THEY REPLIED, “HE WAS WEARING CLOTHES THAT WERE MADE OUT OF HAIR. HE HAD A LEATHER BELT AROUND HIS WAIST.” THE KING SAID, “THAT WAS ELIJAH FROM TISHBE.”
LIKE ELIJAH, JOHN HAD A MESSAGE OF JUDGMENT FOR THE APOSTATE NATION OF ISRAEL. HIS MINISTRY WAS PROPHESIED IN ISAIAH 40:3
ISAIAH 40:2-3:
2 SPEAK TENDERLY TO THE PEOPLE OF JERUSALEM. ANNOUNCE TO THEM THAT THEIR HARD SERVICE HAS BEEN COMPLETED. TELL THEM THAT THEIR SIN HAS BEEN PAID FOR. TELL THEM I HAVE PUNISHED THEM ENOUGH FOR ALL OF THEIR SINS.” 3 A MESSENGER IS CALLING OUT, “IN THE DESERT PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE LORD. MAKE A STRAIGHT ROAD THROUGH IT FOR OUR GOD.
JOHN’S MINISTRY WOULD REACH IT’S PEAK WITH THE BAPTISM OF JESUS. JOHN WILL STILL BE INVOLVED IN MINISTRY, BUT THE FOCUS OF THE WRITERS WILL BE ON JESUS. EVEN JOHN KNEW THAT THIS WOULD COME TO PASS.
JOHN 3:30-31:
30HE MUST BECOME MORE IMPORTANT. I MUST BECOME LESS IMPORTANT. 31“THE ONE WHO COMES FROM ABOVE IS ABOVE EVERYTHING. THE ONE WHO IS FROM THE EARTH BELONGS TO THE EARTH AND SPEAKS LIKE SOMEONE FROM THE EARTH. THE ONE WHO COMES FROM HEAVEN IS ABOVE EVERYTHING.
AFTER JESUS’ BAPTISM VERY LITTLE IS MENTIONED ABOUT JOHN THE BAPTIST WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THIS PASSAGE. HIS IMPRISONMENT WOULD BE HIS ULTIMATE TEST OF FAITH.
JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS IN PRISON IN THE FORTRESS OF MACHAERUS, EAST OF THE UPPER END OF THE DEAD SEA. IT WAS HELD BY HEROD ANTIPAS, WHICH WAS THE SAME HEROD THAT JESUS WAS QUESTIONED BY AT HIS TRIAL.
JOHN HAD COURAGEOUSLY DENOUNCED THE ADULTEROUS MARRIAGE OF HEROD ANTIPAS AND HERODIAS, AND IT SEEMED AS IF THE JEWISH LEADERS OF THE DAY DID NOT OPPOSE HIS IMPRISONMENT. THEIR ATTITUDE TO JOHN WOULD LATER BE REFLECTED IN THEIR ATTITUDE OF JESUS.
JOHN WAS IMPRISONED FOR OVER A YEAR BEFORE HIS EXECUTION. ONE WRITER DESCRIBED IT THIS WAY:
“IT IS NOT TOO DIFFICULT TO SYMPATHIZE WITH JOHN AS HE SUFFERED IN PRISON. HE WAS A MAN OF THE DESERT, YET HE WAS CONFINED INDOORS. HE WAS AN ACTIVE MAN, WITH A DIVINE MANDATE TO PREACH; YET HE WAS SILENCED. HE HAD ANNOUNCED JUDGMENT, AND YET THAT JUDGMENT WAS SLOW IN COMING. HE RECEIVED ONLY PARTIAL REPORTS OF JESUS’ MINISTRY AND COULD NOT SEE THE TOTAL PICTURE.”
IT IS NO WONDER THEN THAT JOHN WOULD HAVE DOUBT’S ABOUT JESUS’ MESSIAHSHIP. LUKE 4:18 STATES THAT JESUS CAME TO FREE THE PRISONERS, WHY THEN DID HE NOT FREE THIS GREAT PROPHET. THE FACT IS THAT JESUS MESSIAHSHIP LITTLED RESEMBLED THE POLITICAL AND MILITARY PROGRAM OF LIBERATION MANY JEWS ANTICIPATED. JOHN MAY HAVE BEEN GENUINELY ASKING “IF YOU ARE THE KING AND I AM YOUR AMBASSADOR, HOW IS IT THAT I AM IN PRISON AND OPPOSITION TO YOU IS INCREASING?”
JUST AS THE CASE OF PAUL YOU AND I FACE VARIOUS KINDS OF IMPRISONMENT IN THIS WORLD. A PRISONER AT DORCHESTER ONCE SAID TO A CLASSMATE OF MINE AT ABC, “WE ALL HAVE BARS AROUND US. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU AND ME IS THAT I KNOW WHERE MY BARS ARE.”
THE RESULT WAS THAT JOHN SENT HIS DISCIPLES TO JESUS TO FIND OUT IF HE WAS THE ONE THEY WERE LOOKING FOR OR WAS THERE ANOTHER?
MATTHEW 11:3: 3THEY ASKED JESUS, “ARE YOU THE ONE WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO COME? OR SHOULD WE LOOK FOR SOMEONE ELSE?”
SOME SEE THIS QUESTION WITH EYES OF REBUKE AS THEY BELIEVE JOHN IS DOUBTING JESUS’ MESSIAHSHIP. OTHERS FEEL THAT THIS QUESTION COMES OUT OF SELF-PITY. STILL OTHERS SEE IT AS A FORM OF IMPASSIONED REBUKE.
THE QUESTION JOHN ASKED JESUS WAS A PLEA TO GET ON WITH IT. HE WAS SAYING IF YOU ARE THE ONE, THEN COME AND FREE ME. RETAKE YOUR COUNTRY FROM THE ROMANS. WHY WAS THERE NO JUDGMENT ON THE WICKED THAT WAS PROMISED? JESUS MESSIAHSHIP’ LITTLE RESEMBLED THE POLITICAL AND MILITARY PROGRAM OF LIBERATION MANY JEWS ANTICIPATED.
JOHN HAD EVERY REASON TO BECOME PESSIMISTIC ABOUT HIS CIRCUMSTANCE. JESUS HOWEVER WAS NOT UPSET WITH HIS QUESTION, BUT ALLOWED JOHN TO COME TO ANSWER HIMSELF.
JESUS TELLS JOHN THROUGH HIS DISCIPLES TO CONSIDER JESUS’ WORKS, ILLUSTRATED IN CHAPTERS 8 AND 9, AND ALLUDES TO HIS PREACHING THE GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR. JOHN HAD PREACHED THAT THE “COMING ONE” WOULD BAPTIZE IN THE SPIRIT AND FIRE, CASTING THE WICKED INTO A FURNACE OF FIRE.
MATTHEW 3:10-12:
10The ax is already lying at the roots of the trees. All the trees that don’t produce good fruit will be cut down. They will be thrown into the fire. 11“I baptize you with water, calling you to turn away from your sins. But after me, one will come who is more powerful than I am. And I’m not fit to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12His pitchfork is in his hand to clear the straw from his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the storeroom. But he will burn up the husks with fire that can’t be put out.”
JOHN DID NOT UNDERSTAND THAT JESUS HAD ANOTHER MISSION BEFORE THE COMING JUDGMENT. THIS IS WHERE CHRISTIAN LEADERS AND LAYPEOPLE ARE OFTEN TEMPTED TO BE PESSIMISTS. WE COME INTO SITUATIONS WITH GREAT EXPECTATIONS OF HOW GOD IS GOING TO ACT, AND OFTEN WE ARE DISAPPOINTED. WE LOOK AT PEOPLE AND THINK IF THEY WOULD ONLY ALLOW GOD TO USE THEM WHAT A BLESSING THEY WOULD BE, AND ARE THEN DISAPPOINTED WHEN PEOPLE DON’T ALLOW GOD TO USE THEM. WE MAY QUESTION IF THE EFFORT WE PUT INTO OUR MINISTRY WAS WORTH IT? ANOTHER RESULT IS THAT WE MAY QUESTION GOD, JUST AS JOHN DID.
PESSIMISM DWELLS IN THE REALM OF THE EMOTIONS WHERE THERE ARE MANY ERRONEOUS POSITIONS. POSITIONS UNFORTUNATELY THAT MANY CHRISTIANS WILL FOLLOW BLINDLY OR NIEVELY. ONE WRITER STATES:
“IF YOU HAVE EVER MET AN UNBRIDLED OPTIMIST, YOU CAN UNDERSTAND HOW ERRONEOUS THAT POSITION IS. SOME CHRISTIANS IGNORE REALITY IN THEIR HOPE THAT SOME UTOPIA IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER. OTHERS CLOSE THEIR EYES TO THE INJUSTICE AROUND THEM AND SEE IN THEIR MINDS ONLY THE JOYS OF ANOTHER WORLD. SOME CHRISTIANS DISTORT THE MEANING OF SCRIPTURE AND CONCLUDE THAT EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS IS FOR THE GOOD AND WORKS OUT THAT WAY. SOMEWHERE BETWEEN PESSIMISM AND OPTIMISM ONE MUST FIND A PLACE TO STAND. CHRISTIANS MUST BE AWARE OF THEIR WORLD AND BE ABLE TO APPRAISE IT HONESTLY. THEY MUST RECOGNIZE EVIL WHILE AT THE SAME TIME HOPING FOR IMPROVEMENT.”
RELIGIOUS PESSIMISM RESULTS FROM FRUSTRATED AND DISAPPOINTED RELIGIOUS EXPECTATIONS. JOHN MUST HAVE FELT HE WAS AT THE BEGINNING OF A REVOLUTION LED BY JESUS. YET JESUS DID NOT VISIT HIM IN PRISON, AND MANY OF THE ACCOLADES JESUS HAD FOR JOHN WERE SPOKEN AFTER HIS DEATH.
THE LESSON WE MUST REMEMBER IS THAT WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT OTHERS DO WITH THE GOOD NEWS. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PRESENTING IT. WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THAT IS BETWEEN THE PERSON AND GOD. THEY MAY CHOOSE NOT TO RESPOND, OR NOT TO RESPOND AT THAT TIME. WE MAY BE PRIVILEGED TO BE A PART OF IT, WE MAY NOT BE. IT IS GOD’S TIMETABLE NOT OURS.
PESSIMISM HAS A BAD MEMORY. HISTORY IS FILLED WITH INCIDENTS WHERE GOD HAS ACTED ON BEHALF OF HIS PEOPLE. WE HAVE INCIDENTS IN OUR LIVES WHERE GOD HAS ACTED THAT WE CAN SHARE WITH OTHERS.
PESSIMISM DOES NOT ALLOW US TO REMEMBER THESE TIMES AND GAIN STRENGTH FROM THEM. IT MAY ALLOW US TO REMEMBER THEM AND LIVE IN THOSE PAST GLORIES, BUT IT WILL NOT ALLOW US TO THINK THAT THEY COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. IT WILL NOT ALLOW US TO REALIZE THAT THE GOD WHO CONTROLLED THE PAST, IS THE SAME GOD WHO CONTROLS THE PRESENT AND FUTURE.
PESSIMISM DOWNGRADES FAITH INTO RESIGNATION. PESSIMISM CONVINCES PEOPLE THAT THEY CAN ONLY FACE THE FUTURE WITH AN ATTITUDE OF RESIGNATION – THEY MUST SIMPLY ENDURE.
I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DENTIST NEXT MONTH FOR A ROUTINE CLEANING. I HATE IT ALREADY. GOD IS GOOD TO ME IN THAT I HAVE A DENTIST, WE HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO DO A CLEANING. IF I TAKE CARE OF MY TEETH IT WON’T BE AS BAD. SOMETIMES A LITTLE DISCOMFORT IS BETTER THAN LOSING A TOOTH, A FILLING, OR A ROOT CANAL.
JESUS, JOHN THE BAPTIST, SOMETIMES YOU AND I FACE DISCOURAGEMENT AND DISAPPOINTMENT THAT CAN LEAD TO PESSIMISM. WE MUST BE ON GUARD, LEST OUR OWN PRIDE LEAD US DOWN THE SINFUL ROAD OF PESSIMISM. WE KNOW AS DID JESUS AND JOHN, THE SOURCE OF LIFE, AND THE PURPOSE OF LIFE, AND WITH A CALM OPEN-EYED FAITH, WE CAN WALK INTO THE FUTURE.
