More Than a Prophet

Our church uses Christian Light Publications lesson plan. This is my week to teach Sunday School and so I thought I would put my notes in a post.

More Than a Prophet

Matthew 11:1-15

Intro/Context

Some of us tend to be very skeptical people, when i hear about “something new” or “revolutionary” I tend to say “really? Are you certain about that?” Why is this? I think it is because often times things simply are not as they sound. Rather we trust our own senses, which may not be very accurate or we question someone we trust.

I just did it recently with Walter. He came in to the office looking for a recommendation on getting an electronic log system for his truck. So I looked up this system on the company’s website and then found some reviews. The reviews I found were very unfavorable. People complained that the device would register them to be driving when clearly they were not etc. I then suggested that he calls someone who, like him, is an independent operator and already has a system in his truck. Ask what they use and how they like it. In other words talk to someone you trust.

That's what we find in our lesson today. John wanted answers so he sent someone whom he could trust.

Background

Read Matthew 9:35-37

In Matthew 10 we find Jesus selecting 12 disciples Read Matthew 10:1-6

Jesus gives them a list of instructions...this is the jist of Matthew 10.

The Prophet’s Concern

What does Jesus do while the disciples are gone? He goes about preaching in the home towns of his disciples.

John the Baptist meanwhile, is languishing in prison since (Matthew 4:12) his arrest. He must have been having some doubts and since he couldn’t go to Jesus himself, he sends 2 trusted disciples with John’s burning question: Are you truly the ONE?

Read Luke 7:21.

Luke records a specific item that Matthew doesn’t. Jesus began a healing demonstration for John’s disciples. “In that hour…”

Then Jesus says to the visiting disciples, “Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see:

• Blind see
• Lame walk
• Lepers are cleansed
• Deaf hear
• Dead are raised up
• Poor have the Gospel preached to them.
• Last but not least: Blessed is he who is not offended at me.

This was a list that was rabbinical tradition of what to look for when the Messiah came. (Lee Strobel?) Let’s look at what Isaiah actually said (mistake in lesson commentary).

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, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
Isaiah 35:5‭-‬6 KJV 

And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness. The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord , and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 29:18‭-‬19 KJV 

Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Isaiah 26:19 KJV

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek [poor, afflicted]; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord , and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord , that he might be glorified.
Isaiah 61:1‭-‬3 KJV 

For the Lord spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: "Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many shall stumble on it. They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken."
Isaiah 8:11‭-‬15 ESV

How can something small enough to be stumbled over be large enough to be a sanctuary? Just another paradox of the nature of God.

The Prophet’s Character

Matthew 11:7: John was not a pushover

Matthew 11:8: It is possible that the place where Jesus was teaching was within site of Herod’s palace, if not they were most likely familiar with Heriodin or Herod’s palace in Jerusalem.

Matthew 11:9: So what was John?

Matthew 11:10-11:

"Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
Malachi 3:1 ESV

Isaac Newton: “If I have seen further it is by standing on ye shoulders of Giants.”

John the Baptist was the culmination of the Prophets, he was the last and the greatest...so said Jesus!

How can the least in the Kingdom of Heaven be greater than John?

I am going to suggest to you that it’s because the “least in the Kingdom of Heaven” was able to really know what John was only prophesying about. Our message is not one of future things but of current reality! He who is to baptize with the Holy Spirit or with the fire of judgment is here!

Entering the Kingdom by force??

Somehow over 2000 years and translating between Greek and English we have lost some understanding what Jesus meant by this statement.

Luke 7:29-30 In Luke’s account of this story we find that he doesn’t include this saying but it shows up later in Luke 16:16, however in Luke 7:29-30 we find this parenthetical statement.

(Now all the people who heard this, even the tax collectors, acknowledged God’s justice, because they had been baptized with John’s baptism. However, the Pharisees and the experts in religious law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John. )
Luke 7:29‭-‬30 NET

I understand this to go back to Isaiah 8:14-15 and the picture of Jesus being the “sanctuary” or a “rock of offense”. The proud who refused to admit their sins and repent caused violence and those who did found Jesus to be the sanctuary for their souls. Where are you?

Elijah the Prophet (verse 13-14)

Jesus clearly pointing to Malachi 4:5. John was Elijah who was to come!
Application

Jesus offered proof that He indeed was the Anointed One, the Messiah, the Christ. To everyone he will become either the refuge of their soul or He will be a stone that causes you to stumble and will ultimately destroy you.

Application

Today! Is the the great and awesome “Day of the Lord”, because you have a choice! Take refuge today!