Series: Wholehearted for Jesus

Topic: John the Baptist responds to Jesus

Speaker: Paul Jump

Date: 1 October 2009

The Video

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The Passage

Matthew 11v1-19

When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.

2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and 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. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

7 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? 8 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is he of whom it is written,

“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’

11 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 he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered 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 accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,

17 “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”

Notes

• God may speak to us in many ways
  • creation
  • providence
  • dreams
• But we can only find salvation in the bible, so it is always important to turn to it.
• 3 Questions
  • v2-3 John the Baptist asks “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” – Who are You?
    • Jesus’ answer is to look at what he has done
      • The signs that predict what the messiah will do
    • some people take offence
    • expectance of judgement
    • Jesus only mentions salvation
    • people take offence today
      • because the day of judgment is to come
      • today is a day of grace, a day of salvation
  • v7-8 Jesus “what did you go out into the desert to see…”
    • asks who is John the Baptist?
    • calls John the Baptist the greatest of the prophets, as he points most clearly to Jesus
    • Jesus actually talking about himself, showing that he is the messiah
      • fulfills the scriptures
    • criticises crowd, who need to accept Jesus
  • v16-19 “to whom can I compare this generation?”
    • who are you?
    • Fools
    • God speaks in different ways
    • God is trying to get through in different ways
      • but they reject all these ways
• who do you think Jesus is?
• how will you respond?
• will you reject or accept Jesus?