2025.04.27. Sermon Notes. THE COMING ONE, REST ON JESUS, MATTHEW 11
William Akehurst, HSWC
INTRO: When things don't go as expected we often begin to question our thinking.
But if we remind ourselves of the established facts, and choose to continue in them, we will be blessed.
The Coming One WILL Return, but HE has not yet. Be not anxious, but remain firm in the promises of HIS WORD and wait on HIM.
The invitation has been given, "Come unto Me and find peace."
BIG IDEA: The Coming One. Is the Messiah Really Coming? We all may have doubts at some point in life. Our perception may be that GOD isn’t doing what we want HIM to do. But when we examine JESUS and the OT Prophecies being fulfilled, we can find peace by resting our faith in and on HIM, and can trust GOD’s WORD and PROMISE, of the RETURN of the Coming One!
Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 1:18, Matthew 11:1-30, John 1:29-34, Isaiah 40:8, Matthew 24:35, Isaiah 55:11, Isaiah 40:3, Malachi 3:1, Malachi 4:5, Luke 1:17, Matthew 23:13, 1 Peter 1:10-12
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Matthew 11:1-30
1-3 ARE YOU REALLY THE MESSIAH? (Luke 7:18–35)
1 Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.
2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples 3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
Jesus sent off the 12 to teach and preach in the cities around Galilee.
John the Baptist was in jail, and was hoping for his release. But it wasn’t happening. And doubts began to enter his thinking.
This in contrast to his firm belief in who JESUS was…
John 1:29-34 29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
30 This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ 31 I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.”
32 And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. 33 I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”
4-6 TELL JOHN THAT THE PROPHECY OF MESSIAH IS BEING FULFILLED
4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
John’s doubt may have been from misunderstanding the ministry of the Messiah. He may have thought that if Jesus were really the Messiah, He would bring political deliverance of Israel, or at least, deliver John from prison, and this brought on confusion and doubt in John’s mind.
John may have been confused about the mission of the Coming One and the Christ, the Messiah.
Or perhaps John was simply saying “JESUS, why aren’t you doing more?”
Go and tell John the things which you hear and see…
JESUS reminds John and John’s disciples that HE was the Messiah, and that HIS power was displayed in meeting the individual needs of the people, and not as some big display of political deliverance.
Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me
The Jewish people longed for political deliverance from the Romans, and the Ministry of JESUS offended that expectation.
But there was a blessing for those who were not offended by the MESSIAH who came against the expectations of the people.
(SPURGEON) “Blessed is he who can be left in prison, can be silenced in his testimony, can seem to be deserted of his Lord, and yet can shut out every doubt. John speedily regained this blessedness, and fully recovered his serenity.”
POINT: While we believe that JESUS is the Coming One that the OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECIES described, Scriptures also state that JESUS is to RETURN for HIS CHURCH. We too are seeking the COMING ONE’S RETURN.
And some have doubts and may even be offended because things aren’t happening fast enough, as we are still waiting on HIS RETURN.
PRINCIPLE TRUTH: HOLD on to GOD’s WORD and PROMISES, they will never fail us.
Isaiah 40:8 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”
Matthew 24:35 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
Isaiah 55:11 11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
7-15 REGARDING THE MINISTRY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
7 As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he of whom it is written:
Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’
(GUZIK)
· John was steady, not shaken easily like a reed.
· John was sober, in that he lived a disciplined life, not in love with the luxuries and comforts of this world.
· John was a servant, a prophet of God.
· John was sent, as the special messenger of the Lord.
· John was special, in that he could be considered the greatest under the Old Covenant.
· John was second to even the least in the kingdom under the New Covenant.
More than a prophet:
This is he of whom it is written:
Isaiah 40:3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Malachi 3:1 “Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” Says the LORD of hosts.
11 “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
He who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he:
John the Baptist was great, but he lived and died before the JESUS finished HIS Mission on the Cross and Empty Tomb. Therefore, while John believed in JESUS as Messiah, John did not enjoy the benefits of the New Covenant that were instituted at the Last Supper and on the Cross where JESUS bled and died for our sin.
The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force:
Speaking of spiritual warfare between the kingdom of heaven and the kingdoms of this world. There is spiritual warfare as JESUS, the KING of kings comes to bring the KINGDOM of GOD to this world.
For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John:
Jesus saw an era ending with John.
Under the Old Covenant, every other prophet announced, “The Messiah is coming.”
John alone had the privilege of saying, “The Messiah is here.”
And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come:
Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
Luke 1:17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
16-19 JESUS REBUKES THOSE WHO REFUSE THE MESSAGE
16 “But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, 17 and saying:
‘We played the flute for you, And you did not dance;
We mourned to you, And you did not lament.’
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.”
But to what shall I liken this generation:
Jesus comments on the nature of the current generation, who were picky and uncertain in receiving God’s message and His messengers.
We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we mourned to you, and you did not lament:
They were complacent, those who refused the message of John and JESUS were prone to criticize, rather than receive it.
A friend of tax collectors and sinners:
Jesus quotes the criticisms against Him.
POINT: Jesus really is a friend of sinners.
(GUZIK*) People might criticize John, but look at what he did – he led thousands of people into repentance, preparing the way for the Messiah.
People might criticize Jesus, but look at what He did – HE taught and worked and loved and died like no one ever has.
20-24 JESUS REBUKES THE CITIES THAT DID NOT REPENT
JUDGMENT FOR THE UNBELIEVER
20 Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”
He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent:
The cities had experienced a greater light which required a greater accountability.
Unresponsiveness to GOD’s voice leads to one’s downfall.
Chorazin… Bethsaida… Capernaum:
God’s judgment was fulfilled against these cities. Each one of them was destroyed long ago and has been desolate for generations upon generations.
(SPURGEON) “Capernaum, his own city, the headquarters of the army of salvation, had seen and heard the Son of God…therefore he mourned to see Capernaum remain as hardened as ever.”
(BARCLAY) “These cities did not attack Jesus Christ; they did not drive him from their gates; they did not seek to crucify him; they simply disregarded him. Neglect can kill as much as persecution can.”
Matthew 23:13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.
1 Peter 1:10-12 NLT 10 This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. 11 They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward.
12 They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.
25-27 JESUS’ PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING FOR THOSE WHO RECEIVE HIS MESSAGE. (Luke 10:21, 22)
25 At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. 26 Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. 27 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.
I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth:
We see JOY in JESUS’ words with HIS FATHER.
You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes:
Babes. Those who eagerly responded to the message of the Kingdom.
Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him:
Jesus refers to Himself as the Son and proclaims HIS relationship with the FATHER, and that HE chooses whom HE reveals the FATHER to.
28-30 JESUS’ INVITATION – TRUE REST (PEACE)
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Come unto Me:
The invitation to a personal relationship.
All you who labor and are heavy laden:
A direct call to the burdened.
Labor - the burdens we take on ourselves
Heavy laden - the burdens put on us by others.
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me:
The Offer to come as disciples to learn and be guided by HIS yoke.
Yoke – to be tied to, or under the command of another.
For I am gentle and lowly in heart:
Gentle and lowly, a servant’s heart, one who bears the burdens of others.
And you will find rest for your souls:
The GIFT JESUS gives is peace and rest for your soul.
My yoke is easy and My burden is light:
Because JESUS bears it with us.
Alone, the burden may be unbearable, but with JESUS, it can be easy and light.
When training a new animal (such as an ox) to plow, ancient farmers often yoked it to an older, stronger, more experienced animal who bore the burden and guided the young animal through the learning process.
“The word easy is in Greek chrestos, which can mean well-fitting. In Palestine ox-yokes were made of wood…The yoke was carefully adjusted, so that it would fit well, and not gall the neck of the patient beast. The yoke was tailor-made to fit the ox.” (Barclay)
This isn’t a call to a lazy or indulgent life.
There is still a yoke to bear and burden to carry. Yet with and in Jesus, they are easy and light.
If your yoke is hard and your burden is heavy, then we can say that it isn’t His yoke or burden, and you aren’t letting Him bear it with you.
Jesus said it plainly: My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
*Helpful Resources and Insights: David Guzik (Biblegateway.com)
A. Jesus and John the Baptist.
(1-3) John the Baptist’s disciples ask a question on behalf of John to Jesus: are You really the Messiah (the Coming One)?
(4-6) Jesus’ answer to John the Baptist’s disciples: tell John that prophecy regarding the Messiah is being fulfilled.
(7-15) Jesus speaks about John.
(16-19) Jesus rebukes those who refuse to be pleased by either John the Baptist’s or Jesus’ ministry.
B. The condemned and the accepted.
(20-24) Jesus rebukes the cities that did not repent in light of both John the Baptist’s ministry and Jesus’ own ministry.
(25-27) Jesus praises those who do receive His message.
(28-30) Jesus’ invitation.
Be Blessed and Be a Blessing
Pastor Bill
