Jesus Erases Your Doubt
The Gospel of Matthew: The King and His Kingdom • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 1 viewJesus answers John’s disciples about His identity, and then speaks about the Prophet John.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction: What causes doubt in the Christian life?
· When bad things happen to God’s people?
· When you lose a great job?
· When someone close to you dies?
· When tragedy strikes?
· When a breakup happens?
· When accused of something you are innocent of?
· When you get a bad doctor’s report?
· When? - You add your item here.
In our text today we are going to look at a very important Bible personality who had some doubt about the identity of Jesus Christ. Here is the issue for John: If Jesus is who He claimed to be, then why am I in prison?
Let’s walk through this section of Matthew 11 together and look for the ways in which Jesus Erases Your Doubts.
I. Jesus’ Ministry – 11:1
I. Jesus’ Ministry – 11:1
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.
What was Jesus’ ministry? It was to train twelve men for future ministry – they were His sent ones. These men were ordinary men. Nothing special about them. However, they were willing to leave everything and follow Jesus.
I read this verse and saw three aspects of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus had…
A. A Commanding Ministry – 11:1
1Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.
Jesus commanded His apostles (sent ones). The word “commanding” means that Jesus gave each apostle his appropriate charge.
We must get this down today – the words of Jesus Christ command us – they are His charge to us. His words require our obedience. It’s not a matter if I will keep His word, it is a matter of I must keep His word. To do less is disobedience.
Hear this: Doubts are erased when you accept Jesus’ words as FINAL!
Next, Jesus had…
B. A Teaching Ministry – 11:1
1Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.
Jesus Christ is a teacher – the Master Teacher. What does a teacher do? A teacher instructs. A teacher provides the necessary information for making good choices in life. A teacher provides the tools for navigating life more successfully. Jesus did that and far more.
Every Christian is a student, and we are to sit at the feet of the teachings of Jesus Christ. Are you learning what you need to know to follow Jesus Christ?
Jesus is the teacher, and we are the students.
Learning what we need to know will erase doubt. Beloved, this is so essential. As students there is so much for us to know.
Finally, Jesus had…
C. A Preaching Ministry – 11:1
1Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.
Jesus was a preacher – the best preacher ever! A preacher was a herald of divine truth. Every word that Jesus spoke He received from His Father (see John 14:10).
If you recall from last week’s message, I spoke about the reward for receiving the servants that God sends your way. We should thank God for those who publish or preach the Good News.
The preaching ministry of Jesus Christ was also life-changing for his twelve disciples, and for all the thousands of people His life touched when He walked the earth. And I would tell you that His message is still life-changing some two thousand years later. It is changing lives around the globe.
No one has ever preached like Jesus or taught like Jesus.
Jesus’ ministry consisted of mentoring, teaching, and preaching.
I would suggest to you that doubt can be erased when you intentionally sit at the feet of Jesus Christ and learn from Him.
As we move along, we see…
II. John’s Imprisonment – 11:2-7
II. John’s Imprisonment – 11:2-7
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?”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 the Baptist had been arrested by Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great (See Matthew 14:3-5), and while in prison he had heard about the works of Christ, and so he sent two of his disciples to Jesus to ask Him,
“Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
In this question John the Baptist was asking: Are you the Messiah?
Keep in mind that John the Baptist was the one who proclaimed,
“Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29).
John was having a crisis of belief. He was questioning in his heart what he had been proclaiming about Jesus Christ. May we never forget that John the Baptist was human. He was a man just like all of us. John the Baptist was doubting the identity of Jesus Christ.
Charles Spurgeon penned, “Dark thoughts may come to the bravest when put up in a narrow cell.”
David Platt shares three reasons why doubt arises in our hearts. Here they are:
1. We can doubt when we are in difficult situations.
Please remember that John the Baptist was a religious prisoner of King Herod. He was imprisoned for calling Herod to repentance. John spoke out about the adulteress relationship he had with his brother’s wife. History tells us that Herod divorced his wife and married his brother Phillip's wife. This call to repentance wasn’t a popular message back then, and it’s not a popular message even today.
Someone has said, “Popularity as a preacher passes when you reprove people for their sins.”
John the Baptist was in prison for speaking the truth.
2. We can doubt when we have unmet expectations.
John the Baptist was like many in Israel. The Messiah they were looking for was going to be a political deliverer. Someone who would drive out Gentile oppression. They were not looking for a lamb – they were looking for a lion.
The prison was not on John’s bucket list.
3. We can doubt when we have a limited perception.
John didn’t have the full scope and sequence of Jesus’ ministry. He is locked up in a cell. He didn’t understand everything that was happening, or not happening, around him.
Jesus is aware of our humanity! He was aware of what John was facing. So, Jesus sent word back to John to remind him of His earthly ministry and especially reminded John that He fulfilled the messages of the Prophets.
You have got to love the words found here in verse 4,
“Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:”
And then we have a great list of Jesus’ earthly miracles:
· The blind see.
· The lame walk.
· The lepers are cleansed.
· The deaf hear.
· The dead are raised up.
· The poor have the gospel preached to them.
Get this – I have read that all these miracles listed here are in the present tense, which means that the people who went to John to report these events witnessed them firsthand. They were not passing along hearsay, but they passed along what they heard and saw.
We see this in the parallel passage found in Luke 7:20-23,
20 John’s two disciples found Jesus and said to him, “John the Baptist sent us to ask, ‘Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?’ ” 21 At that very time, Jesus cured many people of their diseases, illnesses, and evil spirits, and he restored sight to many who were blind. 22 Then he told John’s disciples, “Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard—the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” 23 And he added, “God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.*”
When Jesus sent the disciples of John back to him, He made it clear that everything He was doing was spoken by the prophets – they predicted the Messiah would do these miracles (see Isaiah 35:5, 61:1).
Do you recall the purpose of miracles? Miracles authenticated the man and the message as being from God. You see, Jesus Christ was indeed the Messiah, the Savior of the world. Jesus made sure that John received the information he needed to eradicate his doubt.
Again, David Platt writes that we can overcome our doubt by receiving revelation. John the Baptist was given divine revelation – the words of Jesus Christ. You and I receive biblical revelation – such as the Gospel of Matthew.
One other thought before we move along. Note that Jesus said,
“And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
May we never be offended because of Jesus Christ.
One author penned,
“If someone is offended at Jesus, self-appraisal is in order.”
Do you think that John accepted what he heard from those he sent to Jesus? I believe he did. When we receive God’s word it can erase doubt.
What’s next in our text? We have…
III. John’s Commendation – 11:7-11
III. John’s Commendation – 11:7-11
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.
In verse 7, the two disciples of John the Baptist depart, and so Jesus turns the crowd to talk to them about the ministry of John the Baptist. Jesus will teach us that even when we doubt that we can be used by God. Doubt does not disqualify us from God’s service. Jesus asks the crowd three questions about John the Baptist. They are:
Three Questions about John the Baptist
1. What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken in the wind?
How many of you have seen cat tails growing alongside the banks of a river? It is quite a common sight in many areas. The south side of Lake Coeur d’Alene has a large area where cat tails are growing. Up in Sandpoint, there is an area where cat tails grow. And if you visit those areas on a windy day, you will see them being blown about.
As I read this, I believe Jesus is speaking about the steadiness of John the Baptist. I like the way the New Living Translation states this,
“What kind of a man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind.”
John was no wavering reed. His message didn’t change by societal wind (the breath of man). He wasn’t tossed about by every wind of doctrine coming down the Jordan River. John the Baptist stood firm.
Charles Spurgeon wrote that John was not, “A vacillating orator. A man who felt the influence of his times and bowed before its spirit like a bulrush in the breeze.”
Jesus made sure that the crowd knew that John was stable. That he was solid. Doubt doesn’t erase character.
2. What did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments?
In this second question, Jesus speaks about John’s appearance.
We have all heard that “Appearance is everything.” John was not dressed like a businessman wearing a nice suit and going into an office each day. And he didn’t dress to walk the red carpet in Hollywood. No, John had a different presentation. John was a common man speaking to common people. I would add though that his dress got people’s attention.
In my sanctified imagination, I think if John were still present with us today he would probably be dressed in Cabela clothing.
John was a rugged individual.
3. “But what did you go out to see?
No sooner did Jesus ask that question, than He answered that question. He says,
“A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.”
Underline the word “more” for it can be translated, as “much more.”
What does Jesus mean by this answer? Look at verse 10,
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.’
The crowd understood what Jesus was saying here. They knew that Jesus was quoting the Prophets. John the Baptist’s ministry was foretold by Isaiah and Malachi. We read in…
· Isaiah 40: 3 - John the Baptist was Jesus’ forerunner.
· Malachi 3:1 - John the Baptist was the one who prepared the way for the Messiah.
· Malachi 4:5-6 – John the Baptist would come in the spirit and power of Elijah.
And what did Jesus think of John the Baptist? Well, look at verse 11,
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.
No one greater than John the Baptist.
Remember this statement is coming from the lips of the Messiah. And these very words about John have been proclaimed for thousands of years. People around the globe have heard these words about John the Baptist. What a great legacy!
Doubt doesn’t erase your influence or your legacy.
Next, look at the last part of verse 11. Jesus made a very profound statement. He said,
“but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
Do we understand these words? Who are the least in the kingdom of heaven that would be considered greater than John the Baptist?
Leon Davis writes, “Every Christian, however, has privileges and advantages even greater than John’s. John was born of a woman, but a Christian is “born from above” (John 3:3); John could know intimately the person and work of Christ, but every Christian has the risen Christ indwelling Him. The Jews had a saying, “Even the servant maid who crossed the Red Sea saw things that Ezekiel and the prophets never saw.” So, we may say, with Jesus, “He who is least in the kingdom, of heaven is greater than John.”[1]
John was GREAT because he proclaimed the coming of the Messiah, but we are GREAT in that we experience the reality of being a part of that kingdom.
Just a Janitor, Please
I was talking to a man in the church basement one day and we were talking about rewards in heaven. As we talked along, he said to me, “If I get to be a janitor in a closet when I get to heaven, I will be grateful.” It’s that kind of attitude that I believe Jesus is talking about here.
God has great plans for the “least” in the kingdom of heaven.
IV. John’s Ministry – 11:12-13
IV. John’s Ministry – 11:12-13
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!
A. A ministry of suffering – 11:12
Verse 12 is a very hard verse to understand. However, I don’t just want to pass over it. We read,
“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffer violence,”
Jesus was telling us that all of God’s messengers suffered violence from John the Baptist to the present. We know that John the Baptist was beheaded by King Herod’s soldiers (Matthew 14). That is quite a violent death. Yes, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence. God’s servants through time have been grossly mistreated.
Next, we read,
“and the violent take it by force.”
If the “violent” are those who mistreat God’s servants, then they are also the ones who try to silence the message of the Gospel. The “violent” also are always trying to rewrite or change the message of the Gospel message to make it more palatable to society.
B. A ministry of completion – 11:13
“For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.”
I believe that these words mean that a change occurred when John showed up. John’s ministry marked the end of the Old Testament economy and the beginning of something NEW. God was now going to work through His Son – the Messiah.
John became the bridge between the Old and the New Testament. He completed the Old and Jesus picked up with the New.
C. A ministry of likeness – 11:14
Jesus taught,
14 And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come.
God prophesied through the prophets that He would be sending Elijah at the close of the Old Testament (see Malachi chapters 3 and 4).
John the Baptist had a lot of the same characteristics as the prophet Elijah. That would make a very interesting study for many of you. John the Baptist came in the spirit and likeness of Elijah.
I close this section of Matthew 11 by having us focus on the words in verse 15,
“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Touch your ears right now wherever you are. You have two ears. Are you hearing with them, or are you just pretending to listen? You may have listened to today’s proclamation, but you haven’t heard anything - in one ear and out the other. I hope that is not the case.
What does it mean to hear? It means more than just listening. It means to take in, that we put it into practice, or that we put shoe leather to our faith – we walk it out.
Jesus is the answer to all doubt. When we hear and take in His truth it erases doubt. When you doubt do what John did – go get answers directly from the source – from Jesus.
Years ago, I watched a movie entitled, The Sin Eater. Jesus is the Sin Eater (He takes our sin upon Himself). I would also submit to you that Jesus is the Doubt Eater. Jesus answers all doubt.
Conclusion: So, what are the takeaway truths that we have looked at in this section of Matthew 11? Here they are:
1. Jesus is the master trainer, teacher, and preacher. No one ever taught and preached like Him.
2. A crisis of doubt is not the end of faith.
3. Jesus’ ministry continues through His disciples today.
4. There has not been a greater prophet born of women than John the Baptist.
5. Those least in God’s kingdom are greater than John. Don’t forget that the least will play a significant role in God’s kingdom.
6. John the Baptist was Elijah to come.
7. He who has ears to hear let him hear. Take in what is taught.
[1] Leon Davis, Bible Knowledge Matthew 1:1-16:12, Scripture Press Publication