WRONG EXPECTATIONS Matthew 11:1-30 2/20/11

Hard times can sometimes cause Christians to question their faith. Times of pain and sickness Persecution and suffering The lose of a job, a bad marriage, the death of a child, unanswered prayer This morning we will see that even momentarily questioned his faith in Christ. John the Baptist had been a courageous preacher. Many had responded to his message, repenting of their sins and been baptized. John had the privilege of introducing the to Israel. John 1:29-30 "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! . . . In :13-17 we see John baptizing He then sees the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus like a dove and hears the voice out of heaven saying to Jesus, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased." Yet in Matthew 11 we find John the Baptist imprisoned because he had the moral courage to condemn King Herod’s sinful marriage to his brother’s wife. cf :3ff In the midst of that prison cell John’s faith momentarily falters. 1. John the Baptist’s faith faltered because He had wrong expectations . 11:1-15 John knew that the Messiah, was to rule and reign. Earlier, in Matthew 3:12, John had introduced Jesus as the one who would bring a fierce and fiery judgment. What he had overlooked were the passages that foretold that the Messiah would also be a suffering servant. John didn’t expect a period of persecution and rejection. The Romans were still in firm control. Herod and Herodias were living in sin and in luxury. The religious establishment was just as arrogant and self-righteous as ever. But John was sitting in prison facing death. Disappointed and puzzled, John sent messengers to ask Jesus a question. 2-3 “Are you the one or should we look for someone else?” John’s imprisonment does not match his understanding of the Messiah’s arrival John’s circumstances caused him to reexamine his faith in Jesus. Was Jesus truly the promised Messiah, or not? The same can be true of us. Our false expectations can lead to doubts and cause us to re-evaluate our beliefs. Difficult circumstances can sometimes also cause us to question our faith. Dietrich Bonhoeffer strongly stood for Christ when many pastors in Germany coward under Hitler’s threats. In a letter from prison shortly before he was executed Bonhoeffer wrote: “You would be surprised, and perhaps even worried, by my theological thoughts and the conclusions that they lead to; and this is where I miss you most of all, because I don't know anyone else with whom I could so well discuss them to have my thinking clarified. What is bothering me incessantly is the question what Christianity really is, or indeed who Christ really is, for us today.”

2 False expectations can lead to doubts and cause us to re- evaluate our beliefs. Difficult circumstances can cause us to question our faith. 4-6 Jesus sends John’s disciples back with an answer that was designed to give John reassurance that Jesus is indeed the long expected Messiah. Jesus' ministry is in line with prophetic promises about the time of salvation, the blind receive sight cf. Isa. 29:18; 35:5 the lame walk Isa. 35:6 lepers are cured Isa. 53:4 the deaf hear Isa. 29:18–19; 35:5 the dead are raised Isa. 26:18–19 the good news is preached to the poor Isa. 61:1 Jesus' ministry gave sufficient proof of who he was. Even though things were not unfolding in quite the way John had envisioned. But what about the prophesied judgment? What about John’s personal situation? What will happen to him? Jesus doesn’t answer those questions. Jesus gave John enough evidence to prove that He was the Messiah, but He left John with some unanswered questions. I have seen people who professed to be Christians but fell away when they didn’t get the marriage partner they hoped for, or the healing they had prayed for. 6 blessed is he who is does not take offense at me. We must be open to God's unfolding plan, even though it does not exactly match our expectations. 3 7-15 Jesus commends John the Baptist 7 John was not a reed shaken by the wind He was not a weak-kneed prophet John wasn’t easily swayed by every passing wind. He didn’t crumple under pressure and give up. He stood strong. He had courageously called the religious leaders a brood of vipers. Cf Matthew 3:7-10 Herod had confronted Herod about his sin cf Mt 14 8 John didn’t pursue a soft life of material pleasures and personal happiness. John wore a garment of camel's hair and ate locusts and wild honey. Cf Matthew 3:4 9-11 John was the greatest person up to his time. He faithfully served God. John was uniquely privileged because he prepared the way for the Messiah. But those in the kingdom of heaven have the greater privilege. They will be experiencing of what John was merely prophesying. 12 The wicked always violently persecute those associated with the kingdom of God. 13-15 John was the one the OT prophets spoke of. 14 he is Elijah who is to come Malachi had prophesied that “Elijah” would prepare the way for the Messiah (Mal. 3:1; 4:5; Mal. 4:4–6). He was not literally Elijah (John 1:21)

4 Luke 1:17 says that John ministered in the “spirit and power of Elijah” 2. Many during Jesus’ time rejected Him because they had false expectations . 11:16-19 16-17 We played the flute … and you did not dance They rejected both John and Jesus because they didn’t “dance to their tune.” They reject the because John and Jesus didn’t do what they expected them to do. These people were like selfish and stubborn children, always insisting on their own way. (Like many today) 18 Some apparently accused John of demonic influence because of his appearance and ascetic lifestyle. 19 They accused Jesus of being a glutton and a drunkard because He refused to fast according to Pharisaic expectations and because He reached out to lost sinners. However, God's wisdom was vindicated by the righteous fruit of John's and Jesus' lives and ministries. 3. God judges people in accordance with the amount of knowledge they are given . 11:20-24 Chorazin, , and were the cities in which most of Jesus' miracles were performed Yet their occupants remained unrepentant. Tyre and Sidon were Gentile cities in Phoenicia (Lebanon) They were often the object of condemnation by the OT prophets for their idol worship and arrogant materialism. Sodom was the epitome of a “city of sin.” Yet, Jesus says, even Sodom would have repented if the people had witnessed his miracles. God judges people in accordance with the amount of knowledge He has given them. 5 You and I are among the most privileged and the most accountable. 4. Jesus invites us to come to Him . 11:25-30 25-26 God conceals His message from those who are wise in their own eyes. God reveals His message to infants- Those who are humble and receive the gospel in simple faith :2-4 And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, 3 and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 "Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 27 No one knows the Son except the Father Romans 3:10 . . . "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; 11 . . . THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; John 6:44 "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. 28 Come to me is an invitation to come to Jesus personally, not merely to believe historical facts about him. All who are weary and heavy-laden refers to those oppressed by the burden of sin and of religious legalism 29 yoke - The Pharisaic interpretation of the law had become a crushing burden. Jesus' yoke on the other hand is easy and His burden is light. The salvation He offers only requires that you come to Him in simple faith. Jesus’ way provides “rest for your souls” Eternal rest for all who seek forgiveness of their sins Freedom from the crushing legalistic burden

6 Freedom from the guilt of trying to earn salvation by good works.

Truths That Matter

1. Don’t let your faith falter because of false expectations . Expectations Christianity promises a life of health, wealth, and happiness here and now Expectations that God must answer all of your prayers just the way you tell Him to Expectations that you will live a trouble free life 2. Don’t expect God to conform to your way of thinking . Isaiah 55:8-9 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. 9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts. “If the doesn’t agree with me, it must be wrong.” “I won’t accept it because I don’t like it.” “I refuse to believe in a God who would send people to hell.” “I refuse to believe in a God who doesn’t approve of my lifestyle.” Don’t go out and look for churches that simply teach you what you want to hear. Look for one that actually teaches what the Bible says. 2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 3. Don’t struggle under the heavy weight of legalism . You can never live up to it. 7 It will never get you to heaven. Romans 3:20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. 4. Do come unto Jesus . He will give you complete forgiveness of your sins. He will give you rest for your soul. He will give you eternal life. John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

8