It's my joy and pleasure to bring God's Word to you guys this morning. I see a bunch of new faces.
For those who don't know me, my name is Ed. I'm a pastoral resident here at Trinity Cambridge.
I'm excited to be able to bring God's Word to you this morning.
We are going to continue on in our sermon series in Matthew as we open up our Bibles.
If you are in need of a Bible, feel free to raise your hand and we'll be happy to give you a Bible that you can use and you can keep yourself.
If not, let's open up our Bibles to Matthew 11.
The passage this morning will be from verses 1 to 24.
Verses 1 to 24.
Let me pray for the reading and preaching of God's Word.
Heavenly Father,
we are a weak people,
small people,
beaten and battered
by life,
tempted by Satan,
and struggling with our own habitual sin.
And we see
in our own experiences
and in Scripture this morning
that it's easy for us
to doubt you.
To doubt
your existence,
your promises,
but I pray
you would help me today
to preach with clarity,
with love,
with wholeness,
so that our faith
would be built up
so that we have
faith
that seeks understanding
even in the midst
of question
and trial
and confusion.
So Lord,
please
meet us,
address us by your Word.
Won't you increase
and that we decrease,
Lord,
as we look to you.
In Jesus' name we pray.
Thank you.
If you are able,
please rise
for the reading
of God's Word.
Starting off
in verse 1.
When Jesus had finished
instructing his 12 disciples,
he went on from there
to teach
and preach
in their cities.
Now when John
heard in prison
about the deeds
of the Christ,
he sent word
by his disciples
and said to him,
Are you the one
who is to come
or shall we look
for another?
And Jesus answered them,
Go
and tell John
what you hear
and see.
The blind
receive their sight,
the lame walk,
lepers are cleansed,
and the deaf hear,
and the dead
are raised up,
and the poor
have good news
preached to them.
And blessed
is the one
who is not
offended by me.
As they went away,
Jesus began
to speak to the crowds
concerning John.
What did you go out
into the wilderness
to see?
A reed shaken
by the wind?
What then
did you go out
to see?
A man dressed
in soft clothing?
Behold,
those who wear
soft clothing
are in king's houses.
What then
did you go out
to see?
A prophet?
Yes,
I tell you,
and more
than a prophet.
This is he
of whom it is written.
Behold,
I send my messenger
before your face
who will prepare
your way
before you.
Truly,
I say to you,
among those
born of women
there has arisen
no one greater
than John the Baptist.
Yet,
the one
who is least
in the kingdom
of heaven
is greater
than you.
From the days
of John the Baptist
until now,
the kingdom
of heaven
has suffered
violence
and the violence
taken by force.
For all the prophets
and the law
prophesied until John,
and if you are
willing to accept it,
he is Elijah
who is to come.
He who has ears
to hear,
let him hear.
But to what
shall I compare
this generation?
it is like
children
sitting in the
marketplaces
and calling
to their playmates.
We played the
flute for you
and you did not
dance.
We sang a dirge
and you did not
dance.
For John came
neither eating
nor drinking
and they say,
he has a demon.
The son of man
came eating
and drinking
and they say,
look at him,
a glutton
and a drunker,
a friend of
task collectors
and sinners.
Yet wisdom
is justified
by her deeds.
Then he began
to denounce
the cities
where most
of his mighty
works have been
done
because they
did not repent.
Woe to you,
Chorazin.
Woe to you,
Bethsaida.
For if the
mighty works
done in you
have been done
in Tyre and Sidon,
they would have
repented long ago
in sackcloth
and ashes.
But I tell you,
it will be
more bearable
on the day
of judgment
for Tyre and Sidon
than for whom?
And you,
Capernaum,
will you be
exalted to heaven?
You will be
brought down
to Hades.
For if the
mighty works
done in you
had been done
in Sodom,
it would have
remained
until this day.
But I tell you
that it will be
more tolerable
on the day
of judgment
for the land
of Sodom
than for you.
This is God's
holy and
exhortated word.
You may be seated.
I am struggling
to believe in Jesus.
I am plagued
with doubts
on whether God
really is with you.
I am not sure
if I believe
the Bible.
If your friend
honestly shared
those concerns
with you,
how do you think
that you would
respond?
What do you think
that you would say?
Back in college,
I met regularly
with a friend
who was faithfully
attending church,
but for years
struggled with
this kind of doubt.
Doubt about Jesus,
doubt about his faith.
I would regularly
hear these opening
lines
from him.
There were good
weeks,
there were bad
weeks,
but he always
seemed to be
stuck on the
same death.
In the end,
we finished
school,
we moved away
with him
still being
in the same
place,
still confessing
the same
doubts.
What about you?
Have you ever
wrestled with
these questions
before,
these doubts
before?
Are you struggling
with doubts
today?
In our passage
today,
Matthew wants
us to overcome
our doubts
by faith.
And the
Son of God
needs to apply
reasons for
us to do so,
reason after
reason.
So the main
point of this
passage and
my sermon
is simple.
It's because
of his ministry
and because
of his
messenger,
believe that
Jesus is the
Messiah.
But Matthew
doesn't just
state that
truth,
he shows us
two real
contrasting
examples,
responses to
Jesus.
On the one
hand,
you have
John the
Baptist,
on the other
you have
this wicked
generation.
One exemplified
humble faith,
seeking
understanding,
the other
a heart-hearted
skepticism,
demanding
proof.
One said,
I believe,
help my unbelief,
the other
said,
I don't
believe.
Prove me
wrong.
As a result,
there is a
stark contrast
in the way
that Jesus
responds to
these two
people.
And that's
going to be
the main
roadmap for
the rest of
this sermon.
you can
follow along
on the
screen.
We'll
see first
how John
doubts
Jesus,
but in
turn,
Jesus
defends
John.
And then
we'll learn
of what not
to do,
how not to
deal with
our doubts,
by reading
how these
wicked cities
deny Jesus,
and in
turn,
Jesus
denounces
them.
Getting
into the
text now,
in verse
one,
we read
that Matthew
signals a
transition to
the next
phase of
the narrative
as Jesus
wraps up
his discourse
on missions
in chapter
10.
And he
moves on
to carry
out his
ministry,
to teach
and preach
through the
cities.
Even when
Jesus performed
grand miracles
like cleansing
lepers,
or raising
people from
the dead,
it's fascinating
that Matthew
summarizes
Jesus'
ministry in
this particular
way,
focusing on
his teaching
and his
preaching.
After all,
wouldn't those
miracles stand
out most
in your
mind?
If someone
today taught
to preach
and performed
miracles,
we'd like to
focus on
the miracles,
but Matthew,
he has a
different focus.
He highlights
the preaching
ultimately because
these miracles,
these healings,
they were never
the primary focus
of Jesus'
ministry.
They instead
were just
these big,
bright,
neon-lit
signs to
confirm
Jesus'
message.
It's an
affirmation,
it's God's
affirmation to
the preached
message of
Christ,
that he is
the foretold
Messiah.
After all,
God would
not work
such amazing
miracles through
the mouth
of a lion.
God.
And if
Jesus came
primarily to
teach and
preach about
his identity,
we then
carry out
that legacy,
that same
focus in
our mission,
as we
fulfill the
great commission,
teaching in
every community,
every county,
every country,
every continent,
to obey,
teaching everyone
to obey what
Jesus has
commanded us to
do.
Now, as
Jesus is
teaching throughout
the cities in
verses 2 to
3, he's
interrupted by
a question,
a question from
a few of
John the
Baptist
deciders.
If you're
new to our
Matthew series,
or simply
new to the
Bible, John
the Baptist
was a prophet
sent by God
with one
singular mission,
to prepare the
way for the
Messiah.
He preached
repentance and
baptized crowds
all to prepare
people for the
arrival of the
Messiah.
And even when
he was massively
popular, and
everyone saw
him and his
baptism, John
unwaveringly
testified that
he is not, he
was not the
Messiah.
So given all
that John had
already said
and seen, this
question from
John is quite
astonishing.
He asks,
are you the
one who
is to come?
Or shall we
look for
another?
Huh?
What?
John is
suddenly filled
with doubt.
Unlike my
college friends,
John isn't
doubting the
reliability of
the scriptures,
or the
existence of
God, or
even his
promise of
Messiah, but
John is
now doubting
if Jesus is
the true
Messiah.
Before, John
refused, tried
to refuse to
baptize Jesus,
saying that I
need to be
baptized by you,
but now he's
questioning,
not sure.
Once
convictional,
but now
confused.
Once
settled,
but now
shaken.
But why
did John
now doubt
Jesus?
First, it
seems like
John is
expecting a
completely
different
ministry from
the Messiah.
After
proclaiming that
he is not
the Christ,
in chapter 3 of
Matthew,
John continues
to say,
his
wind and
fork is
in his
hand, and
he will
clear his
threshing
floor and
gather his
wheat into
the barn, but
the chaff he
will burn
with fun
punch the
fire.
It
sounds like
John, he's
expecting Jesus
to come with
fire, with
judgment, with
vengeance, to
overthrow the
evil in the
world.
John didn't
expect the
foretold
Messiah to
be
eating, dining
with prostitutes
and tax
collectors, let
alone even
choosing one
tax collector
to be his
disciple.
And
secondly, there's
a small detail
that we skipped
over that
might be part
of the reason
why John is
down.
He is in
prison.
We find out
later in
Matthew 14
why he's in
prison, because
he had boldly
rebukes.
Hannah, the
tetrarch, the
Roman leader
of the land
for his
immoral
marriage.
And you
have to
understand that
prisons back
then were
much, much,
much worse
compared to
prisons today.
Prisons today
are five-star
marriage compared
to prisons
back then.
Back then,
conditions were
unsanitary,
poorly
ventilated,
with limited
food, little
access to
daylight, and
given Harry's
reputation as
a tyrannical
ruler.
He knows
that his
life is
unlawed.
His external
circumstances are
squeezing John
and testing
his faith.
So I think it
makes sense why
John would
question why
Jesus isn't
coming thrashing,
burning,
judging, when
he is currently
suffering at the
hands of the
wicked.
knowing all
this, Jesus
responds to
John in
truly a
most gracious
manner.
It's not
soaked with
passive
aggression or
disappointment.
It doesn't
say, come
on, John,
I thought you
knew better
than this.
John,
you know
better.
No, he
patiently,
gently answers
John,
saying, the
blind receive
their sight from
a walk,
lepers are
cleansed,
and the
deaf hear,
and the
dead are
raised up,
and the
poor have
good news
preached to
them.
Now, in the
recent passages
in Matthew,
particularly in
chapters 8 and
9, we've seen
Jesus do all of
these things,
haven't we?
Jesus has
likely performed
lots more
miracles than
the ones that
we actually see
in these
chapters, but
we don't
read specific
examples about
them, or
specific details
rather, because
editor Matthew,
he's down-selected
these few
miracles, all so
that we as
readers would
get to this
quote in
chapter 11,
saying, ah,
yes, John,
or Jesus, has
done all of
these things.
And while
this isn't a
direct quote from
one Old
Testament prophet,
Jesus does seem
to be fulfilling
a combination
of two
messianic
prophecies from
Isaiah 35 and
61, which I
threw up on the
screen here,
John, who
would have
intimately known
the book of
Isaiah, would
have understood
what Jesus
was saying.
By giving
concrete evidence
of his ministry,
of his work,
Jesus affirms
that the
wait is over.
He is the
foretold
Messiah.
John is
right that
Jesus will
come to judge
the living and
the dead, but
that's not
now.
That's later.
For now,
look, look
clearly at the
evidence of who
Jesus is.
Because of his
ministry,
believe, be
convinced, have
no doubt, that
Jesus is the
Messiah.
God.
If you are
struggling with
doubt today, or
if you're trying
to minister to a
doubting Christian,
I think there
are four quick
lessons that we
can read from
this passage.
Number one,
ask Jesus
honestly.
Just as
John the
Baptist wasn't
afraid to ask
Jesus the
honest questions,
the raw
questions, don't
be afraid to
admit to
yourself and
to others and
before God, the
things that you're
thinking and
struggling with.
There is truly
great value in
working through
your doubts,
because frankly
speaking, if you
have never
struggled through
any kind of
doubt throughout
your entire
Christian life,
it may be
because you
have not truly
made faith
your own.
Then when
tragedy
strives or
when a smart
skeptic
attacks,
your faith
is shown to
be a
house of
thoughts.
But as
you work
through your
doubts,
bring them
before God.
Bobby Conway,
the author of
the book
Doubting
Towards Faith,
he makes
the arguments
that doubt
is directional.
You either
doubt for
God or you
doubt away
from Him.
John exemplified
the former,
doubting
toward God,
to Jesus,
with a faith
that sought
understanding.
So bring
your doubts
to God,
and He
will answer
them.
Number two,
reflect on
the evidence.
When Jesus
answers John,
he doesn't
say,
go searching
within your
heart to go
figure out
what you
feel is
through.
what you
feel is
most important.
The answer
is within you.
He doesn't
say that.
Instead,
he gives
them a
cold,
hard fact
about what
Jesus has
done and
who He
is.
If you
are struggling
with doubt
today,
take time
to study
and reflect
on the
concrete
evidence we
have for
our faith,
the historical
evidence of
the resurrection
of our
Messiah,
the reliability
of our
scriptures,
solid
philosophical
reasons to
believe in
God,
even just
look to
nation.
And as
you study
my third
point is,
be willing
to correct
any
misconceptions
that you
have about
the Christian
faith.
Perhaps
you're doubting
your faith
because ultimately
you have a
wrong understanding
about
Christianity.
If you
grew up hearing
the health
and wealth
gospel,
believing that
if you put
that point
in the
offering box
that your
life will
be amazing,
pain-free,
blessing-filled,
and that when
tragedy strikes,
when life
knocks you
down and
kicks you
in the
teeth,
your
faith
is
shaking.
Just as
John the
Baptist had
to learn
and be
corrected,
be willing,
be willing to
learn and to
correct any
misconceptions
that you
might have
about the
faith.
finally,
number four,
give proper
weight to
life
circumstances.
Understand
that we
are not
robots.
John the
Baptist was
not a
robot.
No one
is immune
to hardship
and Jesus
knows our
friend,
he knows
that we
are but
us.
Understand
that more
times than
not,
doubts
are not
necessarily
intellectual
in nature
or in
their
origin.
When a
Christian
unjustly
fires,
or suffers
a miscarriage,
or loses
a spouse,
that stuff
is hard.
It's really,
really hard.
And it
shakes,
it can shake
your head.
But the
good news of
the gospel is
that we are
not,
ultimately,
the same
by the
clarity
or the
intensity
of our
faith,
but by
the
objects
of it.
Imagine
you and
a friend,
probably
John Buckley,
hiking out
in Mount
Washington
in the
cold
winters,
where you
suddenly run
into an
angry
bear.
In
fleeing,
you guys
get split
up.
the only
option is
for you
guys to
jump into
a frozen
pond,
hoping that
the ice
will be
strong enough
for you.
Your
friend John,
the Cisco
John,
John has a
strong assurance
that his
section of the
pond is going
to hold
his weight.
He's going
to survive.
You're in a
different spot.
Your mind is
filled with
doubts,
uncertainty,
that the
ice will
hold you
up.
But you
both
jump,
only to
find out
that only
you can
stand.
Sorry to
kill you
off in
the sword.
It's not
the strength
of your
faith,
but the
object of
your faith
that saves
you.
But if
you're able
to work
through your
doubts,
just as
John the
Baptist
did,
Jesus
promises
another
beatitude,
just like
he did
in the
Sermon on
the Mount,
he uses
the same
word and
the same
sentence
brushes.
He says,
blessed
is the
one who
is not
offended
by you.
Now,
as gentle
and gracious
Jesus has
been to
John,
this last
statement
feels like
and it
is.
It's a
mild
repute
to
John.
And I'm
glad that
this is
here.
In our
day and
age,
suspicion,
skepticism,
our praise,
conviction,
and assurance
of truth
are denigrated.
Our secular
culture teaches
us to
question
everything,
missing the
fact that
the purpose
of questioning
is to
arrive at
truth,
not to
question
indefinitely.
it.
Like the
gnostic
who insists
that we
can never
really know
whether God
exists or
not because
he believes
endless
uncertainty
is better
than
arriving at
conviction,
arriving at
truth.
People
claim to
see through
things,
especially
religion,
and they
call that
wisdom.
love.
But here,
see us
who will speak
about this
attitude prevalent
today.
You cannot
go on seeing
through things
forever.
The whole
point of
seeing through
something is to
see something
through it.
it is good
that the
window should
be transparent
because the
street or
garden beyond
it is opaque.
How if you
saw through
the garden too?
If you see
through everything,
then everything
is transparent.
But a
wholly transparent
world is an
invisible world.
To see
through all
things is
the same
as not
to see.
Jesus
wants us
to see,
to see
with faith
who he
really is.
He wants
us to have
the faith
that overcomes
doubts.
So he
promises this
blessing,
this joy to
all those who
work through
their doubts
with a faith
that seeks
understanding
and a faith
that ultimately
accepts Jesus
as the
Messiah.
This is a
kind of funny
way to
pronounce true
blessing,
is it not?
You might
expect Jesus
to say,
blessed is
the one
who gives
up your
life for
me or
serves me.
And those
things are
true,
but on
your first
reading,
it almost
might sound
like Jesus
is lowering
the bar
for obedience.
All that
you have to
do is
not be
offended
by Jesus.
That might
seem easy
at first,
but Jesus
knows that
in the end,
he and his
ministry
would ultimately
be incredibly
polarizing
and offend
the
multitudes.
Why?
Because
Jesus knew
that he
would not
be the
kind of
Messiah
that the
public
would be
expecting.
Not the
kind of
Messiah
celebrated
by everybody.
Even
John the
Baptist
expected
somebody
different.
The same
is true
today.
Lots of
people like
Jesus.
They do.
They like
him as a
moral teacher
or as a
good man.
But then,
when they
actually
understand
Jesus is
the only
way to
salvation,
when Jesus
challenges
them on
their sin,
then they're
offended.
And
although
perhaps
John was
offended
by Jesus
and did
struggle
without,
he,
again,
embodied
faith that
sought
understanding,
so in
turn,
ultimately,
we'll see
how Jesus
responds.
After his
disciples leave,
notice how
Jesus immediately
turns to
defend John
before the
cross.
He does
so with a
series of
rhetorical
questions and
figurative
metaphors to
describe who
John is.
But when
John's
popularity
among the
Jews,
he asks,
what did
they go
out all
to see?
First,
he can
contrasts
John with
a reed
shaken
by the
wind,
reeds
a light
and slender
plant that
thrives in
marshy areas
where likely
are easily
and constantly
slung about
by the
wind.
And at
that time,
the term
likely had
cultural
baggage
too,
when rabbis
would use
that phrase
to insult
the toothpicks,
those who
would easily
flip-flop
between opinions
just to
please the
masses
and again
achieve their
own agendas.
But even
when John
was moved,
he was
shaken in
his doubts.
Jesus is so
gracious.
He sees
John not
as a reed
shaken by
the wind,
but as a
steady,
strong,
oak tree.
Next,
Jesus speaks
about soft
clothing that
can only be
found in
kings'
houses,
those who
would kiss
their way
up,
you know,
flattery and
gifts.
They would do
all these
things so
that they
could make
it,
be comfortable
living in
the king's
house in
their smooth
satin robes
or their
comfortable
casual
flares.
But John
wasn't like
that.
He wore
garments of
canons
and a
leather belt,
clothing that
embodied his
practical devotion
to God and
his separation
from the rest
of the world.
And at the
last question,
Jesus gets to
the main
point.
He identifies
John as a
prophet, but
not just any
prophet, the
final prophet,
the one who
would predict
the arrival of
the coming
Messiah.
Actually, he
was more than
a prophet because
he didn't just
predict Jesus
from a distance
away.
He personally
prepared the
way for Jesus.
and he
introduced Jesus
to the world.
No other
prophet in the
Old Testament
and the Old
Covenant could
claim that
for us.
And that's
what makes
John the
greatest of
all those
born of
women before
the coming
of the
kingdom,
which is
just another
way to say
that he is
the greatest
of all the
Old Covenancies.
He was
greater.
He's greater
than Abraham,
greater than
Moses, greater
than David.
Why?
It was, again,
one thing.
John's
historical
proximity to
Jesus is the
one thing that
made him the
greatest.
That he
personally
introduced the
world to
Jesus.
In other
words, simply
put, Jesus
is what made
John
great.
God
is the
greatest.
Only with
that metric
of greatness
can we then
understand this
next verse.
Because while
John was
greater than
anyone in
the Old
Covenant,
that's the
era of
prophecy.
That's the
era of
waiting,
anticipation,
preparation.
But Jesus
teaches us in
verse 11 that
the one who
is last in
the kingdom
of heaven is
greater than
him.
what does
that mean?
The key to
understanding this
verse is
understanding that
John the
Baptist, because
he lived and
died before
Jesus' death
and resurrection,
isn't counted
as part of the
new covenant
people of God.
Instead, he
functions, again,
as the last
prophet of the
Old Covenant,
the transitional
figure between
the two eras,
the Old
Era of
prophecy,
the Old
Era of
anticipation,
gives way to
the Era of
fulfillment,
of arriving.
And that's
why the
least of us
who live on
this side of
the cross is
greater than
the greatest
man on that
side of the
cross.
So if you're
here today and
you have put
your faith in
Jesus Christ,
you are
greater than
John the
Baptist,
you are
greater than
Abraham,
you are
greater than
Moses and
David.
because of
the unbelievable
privilege that
you have as
a new covenant
saint of God,
you have
specific knowledge
and participation
in the new
covenant in
Jesus' blood.
Matthew 13,
17 says,
many prophets
and righteous
people longed
to see what
you see,
and they did
not see it,
and to hear
what you hear,
and they did
not hear it.
You may read
the stories of
how Moses
personally talked
to God face
to face,
or how Jacob
wrestled with
God,
or how Israelites
walked through
the Red Sea,
and a part of
us, when we
read stories like
that, we feel
like, yeah, I
wish I could
have been there,
I wish I could
have experienced
these things.
But the truth
is, they
wish to be
like us,
because we
have the
unbelievable
spiritual
privilege to
have the
whole testimony
of God in
the canon of
scripture, to
have the
Pentecostal
gift of the
Holy Spirit
indwelling us
now, and
most importantly,
we get to
have a
relationship
with Jesus,
with King
Jesus.
All the
Old Testament
saints longed
to hear what
we hear,
to see what
we see.
So may we
never lose the
wonder of the
privilege it is
to be in
relationship with
our King
Jesus.
Verse 12
is one of the
hardest verses
in all the
book of Matthew
to interpret and
translate, and
to be honest,
I'm still not
quite sure, but
I think that the
ESC, along with
many other
reliable
translations,
they get it
right when it
says, from the
days of John
the Baptist
until now, the
kingdom of
heaven has
suffered violence
and the
violent
taken by
force.
Although the
time from
John the
Baptist until
the point of
the kingdom,
the point that
Jesus is
speaking, that
time is
comparatively
short.
But even
within that
short time,
the kingdom
has suffered
great violence.
you have
exhibit A
in John,
who is
currently
brought in
the way
in a
dingy
prison cell.
Take
Joseph and
Mary, who
had to
flee
Bethlehem to
protect
baby Jesus
from King
Herod, who
committed
infanticide in
killing all the
baby boys in
that region.
And in the
end, both
John and
Jesus, they
are martyred
coming, but
it's not
without conflict
or challenge.
And that's
why Jesus
confirms John
as the
foretold
Messiah.
And when he
does so, he
says, if you
are willing to
accept it,
knowing that
there will be
a cost.
But nonetheless,
the violence
that comes with
being a follower
of the
crucified Christ,
it doesn't
change the
reality of
who John
and Jesus
are.
It doesn't
change the
cold-hearted
reality of
their identities.
While John
isn't the
literal
reincarnation of
Elijah, Jesus
confirms that
John is the
spiritual Elijah,
foretold in
Malachi 4-5.
And that
passage was
well-known
throughout all
of Judea and
Israel.
Rabbis
quoted it
often, and
there was
eager anticipation
for the
Elijah to
come.
And when
Jesus is
defending and
vindicating
John here,
explaining who
John is,
that's also
because he's
making a
bold statement
about him
himself.
Because if
John is the
true prophesied
Elijah, that
means Jesus
was the true
prophesied
Messiah.
God, Jesus
and John, they
come as a
package deal.
You can't
have one without
the other.
So if you
believe in
John, you
must believe
in Jesus.
So now, because
of this
messenger, he
urges us,
Matthew
urges us,
Jesus
urges us,
believe that
he is the
Messiah.
Have no
doubt in
your mind.
God.
Although Jesus
points to his
work as clear
evidence of
who he is,
the reality
is that only
some, only
some will have
ears to hear
this.
And we'll
see a prime
example of this
in the very next
verses when he
speaks about the
wicked generation
of Israel who
reject him.
When he
describes them,
he draws this
analogy from
children who
are playing
in the market
place.
Like they do
today, kids
like to pretend
and play
after like
adults.
They play
house or
a restaurant.
And by
then they
played wedding
or funeral.
So here you
have some kids
eagerly saying
to another
group,
let's play
wedding.
We'll play
a happy tune
on the flutes
and you can
dance.
I'm going to
hear a,
meh,
I'm not
interested.
Okay,
well,
what about
funeral then?
We'll sing a
sad tune,
you can play
last morning.
Meh,
not,
not interested.
Could be
compared to
hosting a new
guest for
dinner.
You work
for hours
and hours
preparing a
delicious,
nutritious meal
to present
them.
And they
take one
bite and
say,
too spicy,
can you
do this?
Shoot,
okay,
my bad.
Let me
work on it
again.
Present the
dish.
After you make
it milder,
you'll need to
hear,
too mild.
I'm not going
to eat this.
Wow,
okay,
let me try
to get this
gold.
You'll be
allowed someone
to spice
this in.
Only then to
hear,
too salty.
Then,
too bland,
too sweet,
too acidic,
too hot,
too cold.
Jesus is
using figurative
language to
show that
there is
nothing that
this wicked,
skeptical
generation would
accept.
They're always
moving the
gold coast.
They're like
the people who
make faith
conditional.
And you
likely know
that.
And you've
heard these
things.
They say
things like,
no,
I'll follow
Jesus.
And I'll
go to
church
only if
I get
this job.
I get
married.
I make
more money.
My friends
go to
church.
The list
of excuses
go on
and on.
Then God
gives them
these things,
but they're
again moving
the gold
post.
You can
follow Jesus'
argument
clearly here.
John,
who's
eating
locusts
and
honey,
he mirrors
a sorrowful
ascetic
diet like
that of
someone
mourning.
And that
extreme
asceticism
and devotion
to God,
it doesn't
barter any
attention or
respect from
the Jews,
but harsh
rejection,
calling him
demon-possessed.
That's a
really harsh
rejection.
then what
about Jesus
then?
He came
eating and
drinking.
If they
didn't like
John's
asceticism,
then surely
they'd like
Jesus.
But no,
they call
Jesus a
glutton,
a drunkard,
a friend of
tax collectors
and sinners.
This wicked
flesh is
impossible to
please.
And you
know,
we often
think that
Jesus is a
hard to
please,
Master.
But in
reality,
as we
observe,
Jesus was
very,
very kind
to doubting
John.
It's not
Jesus who
is hard to
please,
but it's
this wicked
generation.
More than
anything,
they are
proud,
full of
themselves.
They think
that they
have a
discerning
eye to
be able to
see the
spiritual
truth about
John and
Jesus'
ministers,
when in
fact they
are the
ones that
are utterly
blind.
rest assured
there are
those in
your life
that you
will evangelize
to who
will simply
not accept
the message
of the
gospel.
And when
we're
rejected,
our first
instinct is
to question,
did I
share that
right?
When our
evangelism
efforts were
shut down,
we wondered
did we
share that
at the
right time,
the right
content,
right tone?
It's
often not
because of
you.
The
Spirit hasn't
worked on
their thoughts,
softening
them.
They will
be just
like these
heart-hearted
children.
So keep
evangelizing
boldly,
not worried
about whether
you're getting
it perfectly
right.
Because even
when the
responses to
our evangelism
is mixed,
the truth
remains clear.
wisdom is
justified by
her deeds.
We all
know the
same,
actions speak
louder than
words.
And if
John is
faithfully
preparing the
life for the
Messiah,
and Jesus
is performing
miracle after
miracle,
helping people,
confirming that
he is the
Messiah,
their actions
justify themselves
in their
plans.
God.
So because
of his
ministry,
because of
his messenger,
they should
have believed
that Jesus
is the
Messiah.
They should
have repented
of their
sins.
But because
of their
unbelief and
refusal to
repent,
Jesus begins
to denounce
all their
sins.
Specifically,
the towns
Chorazin,
Bethsaida,
and Capernaum,
which were the
hometowns of some
of the
disciples,
and a
home base
for Jesus'
ministry for
some time.
That means
that Jesus
performed many,
many mighty
works in
their midst.
But like
these impossible
to please
children,
they are too
obstinate,
too blind
to see the
truth.
In fact,
Jesus claims
that even
Tyre and
Sidon,
which were
the leading
cities of
Phemnesia,
a pagan,
idol-worshiping
nation,
that they
would have
been quicker.
They would
have been
quicker to
come to
repentance.
And these
are nations
that prophets
frequently
rebuked and
condemned all
throughout the
Old Testament
scriptures.
This is such
a harsh
rebuke.
The Jews
were especially
proud to call
themselves the
people of God,
right, because
they have the
oracles of God.
They think that
they are going
to be exalted
to heaven.
We read that
in verse 23,
when in reality
they are the
ones that
would be
condemned
to hell.
For the
idolatrous,
impious,
pagans were
more righteous
than they.
Even the land
of Sodom,
the notorious
city known
for its wickedness,
for its sexual
immorality,
that was judged
by fire and
brimstone,
even Sodom
would have
gone to
the earth.
So because
they did not
repent,
despite
noticing
miracle
after miracle,
Jesus
pronounces a
harsher
judgment
on these
cities.
It's a
sobering
reality.
The parable
of Luke 12
teaches a
similar lesson.
In that
parable,
a master
sets a
servant over
his household
while he's
away.
When he
returns,
the standard
of judgment
is in
accordance to
their level
of knowledge.
Jesus
says,
everyone to
whom much
was given,
of him
much will
be required.
And from
him to
whom he
trusted
much,
they will
demand
more.
Simply
put,
the more
you're
given,
the more
you're
responsible
for.
I
would
not be
a
faithful
her
of
God's
word
if I
didn't
properly
transmit
this
point
to
you,
friends.
If you've
heard the
gospel of
Jesus Christ,
there will be
a greater
punishment
you'd
face if
you reject
the gospel
and refuse
to repent
of your
sins.
So if
you're here
today and
you haven't
confessed the
name of
Jesus,
make no
delay.
Make
today the
day of
repentance.
With the
knowledge of
the gospel
today,
you now
have the
responsibility
to respond.
But it's
not just
responsibility.
It's not
just obligation.
It's not
just fear
that should
motivate you
to believe
in the
gospel.
we ought
to be
motivated
by
grace,
his
kindness.
Romans 2,
4 says,
it is
God's
kindness
that leads
us to
repentance.
To see
this in
our very
passage,
this kindness
of God,
goodness,
compassion,
grace,
these are the
things that
apply to
Jesus'
ministry.
people.
Remember,
even
John the
Baptist
didn't
expect
Jesus
to be
this
merciful.
For God
sent his
one and
only son
to give
sight to
the blind,
strength to
the lame,
cleansing to
the leper,
hearing to
the death,
life to the
dead,
and to preach
good news to
the poor.
He, of
course,
did that all
physically,
do.
But even
more importantly,
he has done
that spiritually
for the least
of us in the
kingdom of
heaven by
dying on
our behalf
and making
atonement for
our sins.
John and
the rest of
the Old
Testament
saints,
they didn't
understand God's
serious plan
to save
sinners near and
far, Jew
and Gentile.
We, you
covenant people
of God,
know, we
know this
good news,
that despite
how good
Jesus was,
he died a
sinner's death,
beaten,
naked,
humiliated.
Why?
It was
because of
his death,
his resurrection,
that we
now have
life.
And that's
good news.
That is
the greatest
news for
all those
who have
doubted God.
It's not
just those
who have
doubted God
intellectually
who need
God's help
and mercy.
You might
not struggle
with the
intellectual
side of
doubt,
questioning
the existence
of God
or the
reliability
of the
scriptures.
But in
one sense,
every sin
that we
commit is
because we
doubt God
and his
promises.
In fact,
the very
first sin
of all
humanity
that
badly
commits
before they
even put
their lips
onto the
forbidden
fruit is
to doubt
God in
their hearts.
It's an
unclean lack
faith that
overflowed
than
ours
to sin.
So,
come,
come you
all.
Repent.
Jesus
wants all
to come
to repentance.
And he
stands
at the
ready
to save
you.
Let no
shame
hinder you
for even
the sins
of Sodom,
even the
sins of
fire and
Sodom,
Jesus
was ready
sitting at
the edge
of the
seat to
forgive if
they had
just
repented.
That is
his humble,
gentle posture
towards you.
1 John 1,
it's a famous
verse,
if you
confess your
sins.
There are
no qualifiers
to that
verse.
Any sin,
if you
confess your
sins,
he is
faithful and
just to
forgive us
our sins
and to
cleanse us
from all
unrighteousness.
There is
more mercy
in Christ
than there
is sin
in us.
So repent
of your
sin,
repent of
your doubts
and go
to Jesus.
Go to
Jesus,
the Messiah
who has
come to
save the
world.
Go to
Jesus as
you are,
whatever
place you
are spiritually.
Doubts,
sin and
all,
go to
Jesus,
flee to
him.
Don't
stop.
Don't
give up.
Keep
pursuing
and keep
seeking
him.
That you
will
persevere
so that
you can
believe
on the
name of
Jesus
Christ
for the
salvation
of your
soul.
And as
I wrap up
this sermon,
I'm happy,
I'm happy to
share that
this friend
from college,
he exemplified
this kind of
perseverance.
Although he
left school
within
unsure about
his faith,
struggling through
gaps, he
never stopped.
He never
stopped seeking
Jesus.
Though in
college there
were times
where he
wanted to
throw in
the towel
and I
had to
talk him
off the
bridge,
metaphorically.
But he
never stopped
pursuing a
faith that
sought
understanding.
And he
is now
growing and
thriving as a
believer,
an active
member of
a church.
And I
praise God
for this
brother,
in particular
because of
God's amazing
providence.
In the past
year he's
played such a
huge role in
a close
family member
of his
journey to
faith.
One that I've
been praying
for for a
decade.
God has
used it in
such a
powerful,
powerful way
faith and I'm
so thankful
to God
for him.
Thankful to
God and I
can't wait to
worship for
all eternity
with him and
his close
family.
So like my
friend, like
John
Baptist, let's
pursue a
faith, a
safe
understanding by
bringing our
doubts to
God and
repenting for
forgiveness of
our sins.
Let's pray.
Lord, we
are
humbled
and are
amazed of
your grace and
kindness that
saves us
doubting
us sweet
sinners.
that you
invite us to
come again
and again,
even when we
question you
and you give
us no reason
to question
you.
We question
you and you
answer so
gently,
so lovingly.
So please
help us to
run to you,
to cling to
you.
Thank you.
you are all
that we need.
Give us
more of you,
Lord Jesus.
In Jesus' name
we pray.
Amen.