A kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they drew. She would occasionally walk around to see each child’s artwork. As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was. The girl replied, "I’m drawing God." The teacher paused and said, "but no one knows what God looks like." Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing the girl replied, "They will in a minute."
We get a big kick out of kids’ views of what God is like. Here are some examples:
In the first book of the Bible, Guinessis, God got tired of creating the world, so he took the Sabbath off.
Noah’s wife was called Joan of Ark.
Lot’s wife was a pillar of salt by day, but a ball of fire by night.
Moses led the Hebrews to the Red Sea, where they made unleavened bread which is bread without any ingredients. Afterwards, Moses went up on Mount Cyanide to get the ten ammendments.
The first commandment was when Eve told Adam to eat the apple.
The fifth commandment is to humor thy father and mother.
Moses died before he ever reached Canada.
The greatest miracle in the Bible is when Joshua told his son to stand still and he obeyed him.
Solomon, one of David’s sons, had 300 wives and 700 porcupines.
When Mary heard that she was the mother of Jesus, she sang the Magna Carta.
It was a miracle when Jesus rose from the dead and managed to get the tombstone off the entrance.
The people who followed the Lord were called the 12 decibels.
The epistles were the wives of the apostles.
A Christian should have only one spouse. This is called monotony.
We laugh because kids often mishear things – and make silly assumptions based on what they thought they heard. But how often do we have a concept of God that runs against our preconceptions? Or we base our view of God on wrong or partial information.
That’s what we find today as we continue our study through the gospel of Matthew. We find someone who you’d have never thought would have a problem with Jesus express some real doubts – and we find Jesus revealing His true character in a way that is both comforting and challenging.
After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.
2 When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"
This seems odd at first. John, remember, baptized Jesus in the Jordan and saw heaven opened. John the gospel writer tells us that John the Baptist said: "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."
And yet here he is, doubting that Jesus is the Messiah. What gives? First – some perspective. John was an outspoken guy – to say the least. His message was one of preparation and judgment. He had harsh words for many people, including Herod Antipas.
Herod Antipas was also known as Herod the Tetrarch. He was the son of Herod the Great. Herod Antipas was a very cruel and corrupted man. He ruled Galilee from 4b.c. till 39a.d. He became enamored with his own half brother’s wife, his sister in law – who was also the daughter of another half-brother, so also his niece – and married her.
John the Baptist called Herod into account for this sinful act. Herod, at first fearful of John, later put him in prison, perhaps to silence his rebukes.
So here’s John, sitting in a dungeon, hearing about what Jesus has been doing since he baptized Him. The likely possibility is that John, like many of his contemporaries, was waiting for judgment – against sin, and against the sinners who ruled – like Herod.
When all the news he got was about Jesus message of forgiveness and healing – perhaps he wondered if this really was the Messiah – a Messiah that the Bible promised would come to rule and reign.
Before we get to Jesus’ answer, let me say this: Never fear to ask an honest question.
If something’s bugging you about God, ask Him, ask me, seek it out and study for yourself. God never rebukes someone for asking an honest question. And Jesus doesn’t rebuke John.
4 Jesus replied, "Go back and 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 good news is preached to the poor. 6 Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."
Notice that Jesus didn’t answer the question directly. He didn’t say "Yes, I am the Messiah." In fact, Jesus avoids that question in nearly every situation. What He says is: "Look at what I’m doing and draw your own conclusions." That’s what He says still today. We can say Jesus is the way till we’re blue in the face, but what we really need to do is point people to what He has done – in dieing for us, and what He is doing in our lives – making us whole and bringing us good news.
Then He says: "Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of Me." Other versions render it "stumble". The idea is: "Don’t get tripped up by the fact that I don’t meet all of your preconceived expectations. Look at what I’ve done and draw the right conclusion."
Not only does Jesus not rebuke John – as soon as his disciples leave, he praises him to the crowd.
7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:
"’I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’
11 I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15 He who has ears, let him hear.
"Who was John?" Jesus demands. He wasn’t a wimp – with no morale fiber. He wasn’t a politically powerful man who ruled from a palace. He was a prophet – and more, the subject of prophecy.
Malachi 3:1 "See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me."
Jesus changes Malachi from "before me" to "before you" thus in a sideways kind of way does refer to Himself as the Messiah. If you listen carefully you will hear the answer to your question.
The last part – about the kingdom forcefully advancing – is the subject of a lot of debate. The most likely meaning is that Jesus is referring to those that oppose Him. As His kingdom advances, so do the attacks against it. And isn’t that true? The closer you get to God, the more you do for Him, the more the enemy targets you.
16 "To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
17 "’We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’
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, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." ‘ But wisdom is proved right by her actions."
The idea here is: no matter what I say or do, you take the opposite of what is meant. Do you ever run into people like that? You tell them Jesus has given you life and they tell you you are weak. You tell them there is only one way to God and they tell you you are narrow. You tell them Jesus is good and they somehow turn it around so that Christianity is evil.
But as Jesus says: the proof is in the pudding – actions speak louder than words. Look at the results – look at the works. Jesus didn’t argue theology, he demonstrated reality. Verses 20 through 24 continue this thought.
20 Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21 "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."
Sodom and Gomorrah had no warning – but the people in these cities – and for that matter, all of us – do. Jesus didn’t come the first time as the conquering king Messiah – but as the suffering savior Messiah. But that doesn’t mean judgment isn’t coming. Again – look to the fruits of Jesus work and it points to the reality of who He is and what we must do in response. One day everyone will be held accountable for witnessing the works of Jesus and their response.
25 At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.
27 "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
What Jesus is saying is: the people who are so self sufficient in their own mind will not see the truth – they are blinded to the reality of who Jesus really is. Instead, as we humble ourselves – see our weakness and need – God is there. And not just a little bit either, for next we come to one of the most treasured series of verses in the entire Bible.
