Matthew 11:1-11: GREAT EXPECTATIONS, AND RECOGNIZING THE MIRACULOUS
“Why do I feel depressed right now, when I’m supposed to feel happy?” “Why do I feel frustrated right now, when I’m supposed to feel joyful?” “This isn’t the way it was supposed to be. This isn’t what I was expecting.” What kind of person am I describing? It could be someone who is having a difficult time as they go through the Christmas season. But this morning, I’m describing to you someone that might surprise you. I’m describing John the Baptist.
What, you might ask. I thought he was one of that strong, faithful prophet that was sent before Jesus to get people ready for the arrival of the Christ. He was the forerunner, the baptizer. How could he say to himself that he’s depressed or confused or frustrated? How could that be?
This morning, we’re going to see how that could be. Even though John the Baptist was the greatest of all the prophets to come before Jesus, he had some moments of doubt and depression and frustration. And in a way, that’s good news for you. He was a human being, just like you. Don’t you have moments of depression, moments of doubt, and frustration? It happens, even to Christians. It happens, especially during the month of December. I read an article the other day that described how the months of December and January have the highest occurrences of heart attacks, depression, suicide attempts, domestic disputes – all those things happen, even among Christians. Why? I thought this was the month when we were supposed to be the most peaceful and joyful! Let’s look at what John the Baptist was struggling with, and as we do, we’ll learn a little bit about ourselves, and where we can find comfort and hope, especially during those times when we are having difficult moments.
We meet John the Baptist this morning in prison. Last week, we saw him freely preaching in the desert around the Jordan River and baptizing people. While he was out there, he didn’t hold anything back. He called sin, sin. And one of the sins he spoke against was the sin of adultery. King Herod, at that time, had committed that sin – he had stolen his brother’s wife. And John was outspoken about that. He told the people that Herod and his new wife were sinners. Herod’s new wife didn’t like that. And so, Herod had John the Baptist arrested and thrown into prison. His ministry at the Jordan River was over.
And as John sat in that cold, damp, musty, dirty prison cell, he probably had a lot of time to think. And he probably had some expectations too. We don’t know exactly what he was expecting, but he may have thought to himself, “I won’t be in this prison for long. After all, I’m the forerunner of the Messiah. God will get me out of here in no time.” Or maybe he thought to himself, “Now that Jesus is preaching, he’ll put everyone in their place – he’ll judge King Herod, he’ll judge those Pharisees and Sadducees. Finally, justice will be served, because the Messiah is here, and he’s going to lay down the law.” Perhaps those were some of John’s expectations.
But as he sat there in that prison cell, it became clear to him that those things weren’t happening. Some of his friends came to the prison and reported to him what Jesus was doing. Jesus wasn’t going town to town, carrying out justice, and putting everyone in their place. Instead, he was preaching about peace, and loving your neighbor, and not judging, and that the kingdom of heaven had come, and that the forgiveness of sins had come. “This isn’t what I was expecting,” John may have said to himself. And as John thought about these things, perhaps he started to feel a little depressed. “I put forth all that work in the desert, and now I’m sitting in this prison, and the Christ isn’t doing what I thought he would be doing.” Perhaps John felt a little frustrated, maybe even betrayed by God, because things weren’t turning out like he had expected. “God, I did everything I was supposed to do, and now I’m in prison and I feel depressed.” And so finally, John sent some of his friends to Jesus to ask the question, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?”
I wonder if people sometimes feel this way during the weeks leading up to Christmas. “I have all these expectations of being filled with joy, and being merry. But instead, I feel a little depressed, and frustrated, maybe even a little betrayed. God, I’m doing everything I’m supposed to do for Christmas.” There’s a lot of pressure there, isn’t there. The pressure is on, for you to get the decorations up, for you to get all the gifts you’re supposed to get, for you to get everything ready for the family gathering. And on top of that, you’re supposed to have a job and take care of your family. You’re doing the best you can. You even have a manger scene out this year – the little baby Jesus is all over your house – but you’re not feeling it. Where is that joy that I’m supposed to feel right now? The Christmas carols are playing on the radio, but instead of feeling glad, I feel a little blue. Is this it? Is this Christmas? Or, am I supposed to expect something else?
John the Baptist had that same struggle as he sat in prison. He had all these expectations of what the Christ was going to do, but nothing was happening like he thought. He asked Jesus that question, “Are you the one?” And do you see what Jesus told John? Jesus basically told John, “John, throw all of your expectations out the window, and just look at what I am doing. I’m giving the blind their sight back. I’m causing the lame to walk. I’m curing the lepers. I’m giving the deaf their hearing back. I’m raising people from the dead. Good news is being preached to the poor. John, think of the miracles. Throw your expectations out the window, and just recognize all these miracles that I am doing.. Focus on me, and forget your expectations.”
Jesus was also referring to that Old Testament reading we have from Isaiah 35– can you find the verse? There it is, verse 5 – the eyes of the blind are opened, the ears of the deaf unstopped, the lame leap like a deer, the mute tongue shouts for joy – these are all things that the Messiah would someday do. Are you the one that was to come? If you were to sum up Jesus’ answer with one word, what would it be? Yes, John, I am the one that was to come! Focus on me, and don’t worry about all your expectations.
Focusing on Jesus is normally not what people do during December, is it. December is the month of great expectations. But for many people, Christ is the farthest thing from their minds. A friend of mine gave a Bible to a man who was going through a difficult time – his life was one disaster after another. My friend gave him a Bible and suggested that he start by reading the Christmas story, since it was that time of the year. The man looked surprise and said, “You mean the Christmas story is in the Bible?” He had no idea that Christ was connected to Christmas. A TV reporter stopped a woman who was shopping and asked her, “What is the meaning of Christmas?” and the lady laughed and said, “I don’t know. Is that the day that Jesus died?”
Focusing on Jesus is not something most people do. Everyone is very busy this time of the year, very busy trying to avoid the real point of the season. Shopping will take place, parties will be thrown, cookies will be eaten. Think of all the Christmas cards out there, with the pictures of birds and candles and snow and socks – everything but Christ. What is the point of it all? You can listen to the sound of dogs barking to the tune of Jingle Bells. You can rush and run around and hurry. But what is the point of it all? Why are we doing all this? Without Christ, you get these high expectations of how happy you’ll be. But then, as you’re going through Christmas, and especially when it’s over, you realize, this isn’t what I expected. Opening this box of golf balls and drinking egg nog with my long-lost aunt isn’t giving me the level of joy that I thought I would get.
Every other week, I go over to Brentwood Assisted Living Center – they let me do a little Bible presentation over there. This past week, after I was done, the activity director came out of her office and said to me, “I get it. Christmas happened because there was sin in the world. (She had been listening in.) The reason Christmas happened was that Jesus came to take away sin. I get it.” And you could see in her eyes, that she had never really heard that before. But she got it. That is the point of Christmas.
There was sin in the world. Mary and Joseph and the shepherds and the wise men – they were all sinners, and they, along with the rest of the world, were all going to hell, unless God did something. And so God did. He sent his Son, and the purpose of that little infant’s existence was to be the Savior of the entire world, of all mankind. Isn’t that a miracle? And once you recognize that miracle, and focus on Jesus, then you start to get Christmas.
Just think of what God did. Can you imagine, right now, going back to being an infant? Imagine giving up language, and muscle coordination, and the ability to eat solid food and control your bladder – imagine giving that all up! On Christmas, that’s what God did for you! Actually, imagine yourself becoming a slug – that comparison is probably closer to what it was like for the Son of God to become an infant, in order to be your Savior. That’s a miracle – what Jesus did for you!
When you recognize those miracles of Christ, and focus on that, suddenly, all the craziness of Christmas is easier to take. I think it’s easier to enjoy. The birth of Christ – that’s worth decorating for. God becomes human – that’s worth having a family gathering over. That God would become a man to take away my sins – that’s worth turning my life upside down for a few weeks. When you recognize what’s really important, what the real miracles of Christmas are – when you stop focusing on all those expectations that our society feeds you, and instead, just focus on Christ, and what he has done – then this whole Christmas thing starts to become enjoyable.
I wonder how John the Baptist liked the answer he got from Jesus. “Yes, John, I am the one. Look at the miracles.” I wonder if that good news chased away some of his doubts and feelings of disappointment.
Remember this story when you find yourself caught in the “Christmas dumps,” when you find yourself mumbling, “This is not what I expected.” Jesus says to you today, forget your expectations. Focus on me, Jesus says, and I’ll give you joy. I won’t decorate your house for you or help you buys gifts or cook for your family gathering. I won’t do any of that for you,” Jesus says. “But I will give you something that every one would love to have during the Christmas season. I’ll give you joy and contentment.” Take some time, during these next few weeks, and ponder all the miracles that Jesus has done for you, in the past, right now in your life, and what he will do for you in the future.” Focus on that, Jesus says, and there you’ll find your joy. Amen.
