Matthew 11:1–6
1When Jesus had finished giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He departed from there to teach and preach in their cities.
2Now when John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” 4Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5the blind receive sight 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 does not take offense at Me.”
Focused Thinking:
When you are in prison it is normal to second guess.
I didn’t say it “right” to second-guess, but I do think it is normal.
Adversity almost always causes people to second-guess.
- It is hard to do the right thing and receive the wrong thing.
- It is hard to do the right thing and suffer for it.
We always see the will of God from our perspective.
We understand God’s will when He uses the suffering of others for His good, but we don’t understand God’s will when He allows us to suffer for His good.
How can a good God allow bad things to happen to good people?
How can a just God allow injustice to happen to one of His children?
- These are good questions, but God’s ways are higher than our ways.
- These are good questions, but God’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts.
- That doesn’t sound comforting to us but His good is our good.
God sees the big picture, not just our picture.
Does John the Baptist ask to be delivered?
No, what does he ask?
“Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?
- If Jesus is the Expected One then John is confident in his convictions.
- If Jesus is the Expected One then John is confident in his circumstances.
- That doesn’t mean he wouldn’t rather be free, but it doesn’t mean he understands the cost of freedom.
John was committed to fulfilling His calling to prepare the way for the Expected One.
John was committed regardless of his circumstances to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.”
John was committed regardless of his circumstances to “make straight the pathways of the Lord.”
John wasn’t the victim in prison; he was still leading?
“Are You the Expected One, or shall WE look for someone else?
You are a true leader when you go to prison and you still have followers.
You are a true leader when you go to prison and your followers stay w/ you.
You are a true leader when you are on the inside and you are still directing affairs on the outside.
How did Jesus answer John’s disciples?
4Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5the blind receive sight 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 does not take offense at Me.”
WOW! What an amazing response? Jesus quotes Isaiah 61:1 (35:5–6).
Isaiah 61:1–2
1The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
Because the LORD has anointed meTo bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives
And freedom to prisoners;
2To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
I’d say that is a definitive response.
John the Baptist knew this passage extremely well.
John the Baptist doesn’t doubt any longer.
It is one thing to quotes the verse; but it something entirely different to fulfill the verse.
- Jesus did more than quote the verse; He literally brought it to life.
- There were witnesses that all of these things were indeed happening.
Personal Application:
Father, I want to be able to tell the world.
Father, I want to be able to tell the imperfect.
Father, I want to be able to tell the skeptics.
Father, I want to be able to tell the critics.
Go and report what you HEAR and SEE.
The blind receive sight.
The lame walk.
The lepers are cleansed.
The deaf hear.
The dead are raised up.
The poor have the gospel preached to them.
Father, show us how to make this true through Highpoint today.
Father, I don’t claim to understand it all, but I do believe it all.
Father, give us the ability to see spiritual and physical healings.
Father, give us the facts and feelings to truly be great at preaching the gospel to the poor.
Interactive Prayer: Prayed Off Line
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