Look back to the day you became a Christian and invited Jesus to take control of your life. Do you remember the excitement and peace you felt? Since then we have tried to live the Christian life and speak of Jesus, but it has all gone a little flat. Many around us seem to have drifted away and no longer meet up with other Christians. Furthermore they seem to be getting on successfully with their lives. Rejecting Jesus does not seem to have caused major problems. As for us, the advance of the gospel seems so slow and we appear to be so weak. Even church leaders seem more interested in their careers and families than in the advance of the church. Except for the sermons on Sunday little else seems to be happening. Yes, my wife works hard with the children’s work but again so little seems to result from this.
Have we got this right? Is Jesus really the answer the world, and each of us, needs?
This passage in Matthew’s gospel begins the second narrative section. You will remember that he composed his book with an introduction, then there are five narrative sections interspersed with five teaching passages. The Sermon on the Mount was the first teaching section. Each block of teaching ends with the phrase:
“When Jesus had finished saying these things”
John the Baptist’s ministry
Chapter 3 of Matthew begins the first narrative section and, as in the 2nd narrative section, this also starts with John the Baptist. He came preaching to crowds and his core message was:
“Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 3:2
This phrase, ‘Kingdom of heaven’ is central to Matthew’s gospel and is used 32 times in his book. He not only talked about the coming King, God’s Messiah, but he also told people about God’s judgment.
In the original Greek text of Matthew 3:2 and 4:17, the phrase translated as "is at hand" is the single Greek verb ēngiken. This verb comes from the root word engizō, which means ‘to draw near,’ or ‘to be close’. The word ēngiken is written in the perfect tense. In ancient Greek, the perfect tense signifies an action that was completed in the past but has ongoing effects right now in the present. English translations like the King James Version (‘is at hand’) can make it sound like the Kingdom is a future event just waiting on the horizon. The Greek tense means "has drawn near" or "has arrived". It is a completed approach. The Kingdom has officially entered the human sphere and is now actively accessible.
John called people to turn back to living as God wants and to make a public statement that this was how they were going to live thereafter:
“I baptise you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Matthew 3:11-12
The Messiah he talked about is no weakling, he is awesome. He will change people radically. He will judge people and separate God’s people from all the others who will find themselves in hell.
When John had been preaching, he seems to have had no doubts about Jesus. Jesus was the Messiah prophesied in the old Jewish Scriptures. These taught that God would come into his world as a person to rescue a people for himself. John had no doubts then. He had pointed to Jesus saying clearly ‘He is the one’.
“Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” John 1:29
After he had baptised Jesus he had heard a voice from heaven say:
“This is my son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17
This was not a people pleasing preacher, he spoke for God.
Herod’s affair
He spoke publicly about the adulterous affair between Herod Antipas was the tetrarch (regional ruler) of Galilee and Perea. Herod had entered into a relationship with Herodias, who was simultaneously his niece and the wife of his half-brother, Herod Philip, who ruled in as Iturea and Trachonitis, the area north east of the Sea of Galilee. After Herod the Great died his kingdom had been divided into four, one for each of his four sons to rule.
In order to marry Herodias, around AD 27, Antipas divorced his first wife, the Nabatean princess Phasaelis, daughter of King Aretas IV. This King, Aretas IV Philopatris, was the most powerful king of the Nabataean Empire, ruling from 9 BC to AD 40, with his capital at Petra. Herodias left her husband Herod Philip. The marriage broke Mosaic law, specifically Levitical prohibitions (Leviticus 18:16 and 20:21) against marrying a living brother's wife.
John the Baptist publicly condemned the marriage as both unlawful and immoral, leading Antipas to have him imprisoned. Prompted by Herodias and her daughter Salome, Antipas later had John the Baptist beheaded when imprisoned.
The abandoned princess, Phasaelis, fled back to her father, King Aretas IV. This insult and ongoing land disputes sparked a brief war in which Antipas suffered a major military defeat. Continued political plotting by Herodias eventually caused Roman Emperor Caligula to strip Antipas of power and exile them both to Gaul (modern-day France) in AD 39.
However, at this point in the story, John the Baptist is languishing in a prison in Machaerus, a desert palace-fortress built by Herod the Great and located in Perea, east of the Dead Sea in modern day Jordan
He was obviously receiving updates about Jesus, ministry. It has been suggested that because of his depressing circumstances he had developed doubts about Jesus. Mark, however, suggests that he remained robust when in prison:
“. . . because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.” Mark 6:20
Look at what the text says; he didn’t send one trusted servant to ask questions about Jesus but sent them all. He wanted them to be convinced about Jesus, just as he had sent Peter and Andrew to meet Jesus (John 1:35-37).
“When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah he sent his disciples to ask him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’” Matthew 11:2-3
Matthew has included this passage as he recognised that there were many asking the same question.
‘Is Jesus really God’s Messiah? Where is his judgment John talked about?’
There is an important point here. Most people have doubts at some time or another. There are two ways to address these. John the Baptist addresses the questions head on and tries to resolve the questions. Many just accept their doubts, do nothing and drift away. What a great example John the Baptist gives us. Did he ask this question because he had doubts about the Messiah or because he wanted his followers to see the evidence that Jesus is the Chosen One?
Jesus answers John’s question
Jesus answers in a way that is relevant to people of all generations.
1. ’I am’ the promised King
Jesus came to Israel which held to the Jewish Scriptures. These gave great details about the Messiah, God’s eternal King, who was to come. Jesus answers:
“Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” Matthew 11:4-5
Jesus is trying to help John’s disciples to look at the evidence about himself. This reply is also a summary of chapters 8-10, but the way Jesus phrased it should have rung bells. Jesus is picking up on the prophecies in Isaiah, where he says what God will do when he breaks into this world. One prophecy outlines four specific types of physical healing:
"Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart [deer], and the tongue of the dumb [mute] sing..."Isaiah 35:5–6
This prophecy outlines:
Giving sight to the blind
Restoring hearing to the deaf
Enabling the paralysed and lame to walk and leap
Restoring speech to the mute
This and other prophecies are well worth studying. A summary of the prophecies in Isaiah about the future Messiah can be found on this website. It is called ‘Prophecies in Isaiah about the Messiah’. The astonishing miracles that Jesus performed do confirm his claims to be God’s Messiah.
The next verse is weighty:
“Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” Matthew 11:6
‘Bless you’ is often a trite phrase but Jesus means it in a very significant way. “God will bless you if . . .” At the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus explained how we will be blessed by God, it is by thinking with different priorities:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:3-4
Jesus longs for us to be blessed, to benefit by living the way he wants. We have been encouraging everyone to learn the following beatitude from the Psalms:
“Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.” Psalm 89:15
This is a summary of the Christian life, to walk every day in the presence of God and learn how to talk about Jesus to others. To be blessed by Almighty God is very big indeed - he wants us to experience life in all its fulness.
A literal translation of ‘does not stumble’ could be ‘is not offended’ because of me. There are unfortunately many churches today who try to present a Christianity in which Jesus is at the periphery. Worship is the ‘high’ felt in church services, not living for Jesus all the time. The concept of being made right with God, forgiven because we have acknowledged Jesus to be our king, and empowered by his Spirit to speak about the Kingdom of God is not what all churches promote.
Elsewhere, in the Bible ‘to stumble’ is to fall away from God though this may be either a temporary or permanent state. Peter stumbled three times when he denied Jesus just before his trials and execution, yet the Lord restored him and he became an active witness for Christ.
Paul asks whether Israel has stumbled so as to fall beyond recovery:
“Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all!” Romans 11:11
Here he contrasts a temporary stumble with a complete and final rejection by God.
Peter uses this word to warn people not to stumble over the importance of Jesus and the apostles teaching about him. They:
“ . . . stumble at the word, being disobedient" 1 Peter 2:8
David says in one of his Psalms that though a righteous person may ‘stumble’ (or fall), they will not be utterly cast down or permanently separated, because:
‘. . . the Lord upholds him with his hand’. Psalm 37:24
He experienced this restoration after he had stumbled into adultery and murder.
God’s people will fail him many times but will return. The ungodly will never do so:
"Though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble in time of calamity”. Proverbs 24:16
Jesus is saying:
“Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” Matthew 11:6
Jesus is saying that the gospel centres on him. Reject the centrality of Jesus and you reject the gospel and your own salvation. Look at what Jesus taught, look at his actions, see how they fulfil Scripture. Look at yourself, do I need the forgiveness Jesus offers? Any sincere student must recognise that Jesus stands unique, he must be the King God promised to send. What is it that prevents people, perhaps prevents you, from bowing before him?
If anyone looks at Jesus and says:
“You don’t quite fit what I want, some of what you said and did offend me.”
How arrogant such thinking is. If anyone doesn’t think that Jesus can meet their deepest need, then they have not recognised the truth about either themselves or him. They have put themselves in the place of God and they need to be warned. God will not always tolerate the rejection of himself or his Son.
Why did John have these questions? It does seem likely that he was asking them to help his disciples. If we remember the emphasis of John’s preaching, it was:
“God’s great and glorious king is coming to bring judgment on God’s enemies.”
The prophet Isaiah not only had some very positive things to say about the teaching, miracles, death and resurrection of the Messiah, he also talked much about God’s judgment that he will bring. People would be asking, ‘Where is this judgment’? John was now languishing in gaol but he still wants his disciples to understand about Jesus.
We may think something similar. The gospel looks so weak. Often it appears that evil is winning and sinners prosper.
Jesus would again say, ‘Look again at the evidence. Look again at the prophecies.’ When this is done it is apparent that not all have been fulfilled, especially the ones to do with God’s final judgment. However we have more than enough to act on.
Jesus promises us that all the prophecies in the Old Testament will be fulfilled. Later in Matthew 11 we read that the judgment of God is going to come on those who refuse to acknowledge God’s King and follow him:
“Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For 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. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.” Matthew 11:20-24
God has delayed his judgment to give us time to repent and throw ourselves on God’s mercy. Peter says:
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9
2. John the Baptist is the promised prophet
John the Baptist prepared the way for the coming of Jesus by speaking about him. Vast crowds were, by now, following Jesus and it would be possible for John to feel a little jealous. It would be possible for Jesus to be upset by John’s question but the opposite is true. Jesus uses it to give others the answer to this vital question, ‘Are you the one?’ But he goes on to commend John with the highest praise for both what he did and how he did it.
“As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 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. Matthew 11:7-8
John’s actions
Think about what John did. He was certainly not ‘a reed shaken by the wind’. He never changed his message to suit his hearers. His clothing showed he was not interested in worldly success, he wasn’t dressed in soft smart clothes. John stuck to his message even though it led to problems. Jesus continued:
“Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.” Matthew 11:9
This is high honour indeed. How can a person be greater than one who passes on the word of God to people. Jesus then quotes from the last of the prophets, Malachi, who told God’s people to wait for the one who will come to prepare the way for the Messiah, God’s Chosen King.
“This is the one about whom it is written: ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’” Matthew 11:10
This must have been so encouraging to John, languishing in prison, to hear what Jesus said about him:
“Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist . . .” Matthew 11:11
Malachi had written:
“See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.” Malachi 4:5
This is remarkable. His hearers would know of all the Old Testament prophets who were ‘born of women’, men such as Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel. Yet here was John the Baptist who was even greater than those brave heroes who stood up boldly for the truth.
“And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.” Matthew 11:14
Jesus point is not that John, in himself was a greater person, but that he pointed so specifically to Jesus. Jesus is saying, ‘He is the great one because he points people to me.’ All the Old Testament prophets did point to Jesus but none so directly as John who said,
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” John 1:29
“But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Matthew 3:11
John the Baptist is the Elijah that Malachi talked about. How encouraging this must have been to the disciples of John and also to John himself.
But how was the coming of the Messiah to be “great and dreadful day of the Lord comes’? The way we react to the coming of Jesus determines our eternal fate. Reject God and we will be rejected by him.
John’s example
John dressed and ate like Elijah to help people realise that he is acting as the forerunner to the Messiah. John was fearless, he always wanted people to know about Jesus. This message about Jesus matters very much. The next verse is important:
“Whoever has ears, let them hear.” Matthew 11:15
We must respond to this message and accept Jesus as our King.
To speak openly about the Lord is always a feature of God’s people. A psalmist wrote:
“Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.” Psalm 89:15
To be blessed by God we have to walk closely with him days by day and this will include learning, and it needs to be learnt, how to speak about our Lord.
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10
Paul repeats this so none of us can miss what he is saying, to speak openly about the Lord Jesus is evidence that we have been saved.
Jesus compared John the Baptist with those who are in the Kingdom of God, who follow him as their king:
“. . . there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Matthew 11:11
What has changed? Jesus has entered his world. We live on this side of his sacrificial death and resurrection. We live in the age where this news is being spread to all nations. We now understand what the Old Testament is all about. It all fits together - they point to Jesus as God’s Messiah. Therefore we can speak all the more clearly of the God who always keeps his promises, who rescues people and welcomes us into his eternal Kingdom.
Natural fear
Jesus is saying this so that we will continue to speak of what we know. Why wouldn’t we - is it usually fear? Matthew 10 is all about the challenges of living for Jesus and the opposition that will come. This explains why the next chapter, chapter 11, is all about John, who spoke up unbendingly, suffered for it, but was always pointing people to Jesus. He was great because he spoke openly of Jesus. We must learn from John, we mustn’t fold when the winds come, we mustn’t look for the comfortable life and adjust our message accordingly. We must give ourselves to making Jesus known to those around us, just as John did for his disciples. The world may not think much of us but they need to hear the truth. So we today, prior to his return, are in an ideal position to persuade others that the truth is in Jesus.
BVP
