Matthew 11:2-11 – Rev. Jonathan P. Boehne

Third Sunday in Advent December 15, 2019 The Sunday of John the Baptist in Prison

Sunday: Advent 3 | Sermon Text: Matthew 11:2-11

Advent 3
Matthew 11:2-11
December 15, 2019

Copyright 2013 by Ian M. Welch. All Rights Reserved. Paramentics.com.

“Look Out the Window”

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Let’s say the forecasters start calling for twelve inches of snow overnight tonight. And you’re very excited because you want a day off of school or a day off from work. So you go to bed very excited, firmly believing that tomorrow you’re going to sleep in and stay home with a cup of hot chocolate. Then tomorrow morning comes. You’ve got all the blinds closed overnight so you can’t see outside yet. And someone comes into your room and says, “I don’t know if it snowed at all last night.”

Now what do you do? A small sliver of doubt has come into your mind. You have believed and trusted the forecasters that it’s snowing and you have planned on the day off. But what do you do with this bit of doubt? Do you pull the covers over your head and say, “No. It snowed. I believe it snowed and you can’t tell me otherwise?” Or do you try to muster yourself up, “I must have faith. I must believe that it snowed and I must not doubt?”

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Advent 3 December 16, 2018 The Sunday of John the Baptist in Prison

Sunday: Advent 3 | Sermon Text: Matthew 11:2-11

Advent 3
Matthew 11:2-11
December 16, 2018

“Offended or Blessed”

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Jesus says, “Blessed is the one who is not offended by Me.” Offended by Jesus?! Surely not!

But today is the day of being offended by everything. We even have a derogatory term now for people who are offended by everything—we’re called snowflakes. We all think we’re unique and special and no one should contradict us in any way. That’s you and me. We get offended by the smallest things. We’re offended when our Amazon Prime package comes in three days instead of two days. One day late, are you kidding me?! We’re offended when the McDonalds drive through takes fifteen seconds to get through instead of ten seconds. How dare they?! We’re offended when the football game isn’t close enough to our liking and we get bored with it. We’re offended when someone in the parking space next to us is a few inches too close to our car. We’re offended when someone doesn’t respond immediately to our text message or message on Facebook.

BUT…we’d never be offended by Jesus, right? Oh, of course not. Well that got me thinking to do a research on the word offense. First, of course, I should remind you that the word for offense in Greek is scandalon, which you know means to cause someone to stumble. To scandalize them. It comes literally from the device in an animal trap that you would trip and become trapped. Or from throwing a rock into someone’s path or plans to make them stumble, like our English phrase, “throw a wrench into the gears”. So Jesus says blessed is the one who doesn’t become ensnared by Him or trip over Him.

But what about in English—this word “offend”? It comes from the Latin and has a variety of meanings all related to someone coming against another person. Think basketball or football for a minute. One team is on offense. They’re attacking the other team trying to score.

Think criminals. What is their “offense”? Is he a repeat “offender”? In this case, again, they’ve attacked a law and broken it. They’ve come against what we’ve all agreed is wrong and they’re guilty of offending the law. So this is why we’re always getting offended at everything. Other people come against any little thing that attacks our sensibilities. Basically, you see, it’s that I’m always right and anyone who contradicts me in any way is offensive.

So now, what about Jesus? Are you ever offended by Jesus? Does Jesus ever contradict your sensibilities? Does Jesus ever say or do things that you don’t think is quite right? That you would do differently?

Maybe you’re offended by how much Jesus talks about hell. Maybe it offends you that God would ever let anyone, no matter how diabolical they are, to ever go to hell? Are you offended by hell? Does it contradict your sensibilities? Do you think everyone should get a free pass into heaven?

Maybe you’re offended that Jesus allows people to suffer. Is Jesus is good, why does He allow any of these evil things to happen? Does the problem of evil offend you? Would you do things differently? In your humble opinion, do you think God should take away all suffering from the world right now?

Maybe you’re offended that Jesus talks about sin so much. Do you think Jesus is too much of a downer? That He should have had more positive conversations with people? Why’s He always talking about sexual immorality and idolatry and adultery and so forth. Why’s He always talking about repentance?

Are you offended that Jesus is so exclusive? That He says the only way to get to heaven is to believe in Him and no other way? Is it offensive that Jesus doesn’t say all religions lead to the same place and that as long as someone is basically good they can get to heaven? Are you offended that He says other religions lead to hell?

Finally, and most of all, are you offended that Jesus hides? Are you offended that He hid Himself in a baby rather than appearing to the world in all His glory? Are you offended that He hid His glory in a cross of all places? Are you offended that He hides Himself now in His Word and in the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper? Do you think Jesus should be more visible? More powerful? More “in your face”?

Somebody in the Gospel reading was offended by Jesus. It was either John the Baptist or John the Baptist’s disciples. Because they want to know, “Are you really thee One, Jesus? You’re not what we wanted.” And Jesus says, “Go and tell John what I’m doing. And blessed is the one who isn’t offended by Me.” This was pretty crucial for John the Baptist. He was about to be beheaded by King Herod. Would he be offended by that? Or blessed?

Friends in Christ, don’t be offended by Jesus. Repent. You and I are the ones who have offended Him. God hasn’t attacked our sensibilities. We’ve attacked His. He hasn’t broken our laws. We’ve broken His. We’re the offensive ones. Jesus has come to bless us. And as long as we’re not offended by Him, we will be blessed.

The problem with us sinners is that we so often want Jesus on our terms rather than on His terms. That’s why we get offended. John the Baptist and His disciples are basically saying to Jesus, “You’re not doing the things we think you should be doing.” And Jesus says, “Yes, you’re right. And blessed is the one who isn’t offended by Me.” Don’t try to take Jesus on your own terms. Don’t try to make Jesus “Mr. Nice Guy Jesus” or “Mr. Anything Goes Jesus” or “Mr. 21^st Century American Jesus” or “Mr. Republican Jesus” or “Mr. Social Justice Jesus” or “Mr. He Just Wants Us to Try Our Best Jesus”.

Look at what Jesus does. He gives sight to the blind. He makes the lame walk. He cleanses lepers. He gives hearing to the deaf. He raises the dead. And He preaches good news to the poor.” Now if you’re any of those people—which you most certainly are—then you won’t be offended by Jesus. You will be blessed.

Take Jesus on His terms. He is your Savior. You are a sinner. You are poor, dead, deaf, diseased, lame, and blind. And He has come to heal you. And the way He has come to heal you is to take all your sin and carry it to the cross. Don’t be offended. This is the way He had to do it to save you. Justice had to be served. You have offended God. You’re a repeat offender. And the only way to satisfy God’s justice is for someone to take the punishment.

So Jesus goes to the cross for you. Don’t be offended by the cross. Be blessed by it. Don’t be offended that Jesus comes to you in simply the Word of Holy Scripture or simply in the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper. That’s part of His grace. He comes in a way that you can handle Him. He comes in a way of grace and mercy and not in a way of punishment and wrath. Don’t be offended. Be blessed.

This is how Jesus sums it all up when talking about John the Baptist. All of us want to be the greatest in the whole world. Don’t kid yourself. That’s what you want. We all want to be that precious snowflake that’s so unique and special that the whole world admires how great we are. But Jesus shatters that for each one of us completely. He says that among those born of women, none is greater than John the Baptist. So just forget it. You’ll never be the greatest in this world. Don’t be offended. You’re not the greatest in the world. Your ways aren’t the best ways. Your thoughts aren’t the best thoughts. Your brain isn’t the biggest brain. John the Baptist is better than you.

BUT…don’t be offended. Be blessed. Because Jesus says even the absolute least in the kingdom of God is greater than John the Baptist. Are you hearing that? Everyone in the kingdom of God is greater than anyone here on earth. Be blessed! Believe in Jesus Christ. Repent and confess that you’re not the greatest. That you’re a sinner. Repent and confess that you’ve offended God in thought, word, and deed.

And see Jesus who may not do everything your way, but does everything the right way. Who does everything necessary to save you and all sinners from death and hell. See Jesus who is, indeed, the One for all of us.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Advent 3 The Sunday of John the Baptist in Prison December 17, 2017

Sunday: Advent 3 | Sermon Text: Matthew 11:2-11

Advent 3
Matthew 11:2-11
December 17, 2017

‘You Don’t Look Like Much’

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Said one cousin to another, “You don’t look like much.” That’s John the Baptist to his cousin, Jesus. That’s John the Baptist, “You don’t look like much, Jesus.” That’s John the Baptist, rotting in prison and about to be beheaded by King Herod. Or more correctly, by King Herod’s new wife, Herodias, and her daughter who’s a pretty good dancer. The daughter that will ask for John’s head on a platter. That’s John the Baptist, who was thrown into prison when he told King Herod that he should have never married Herodias in the first place, her being his brother’s wife and all, his sister-in-law. …

Advent 3 December 11, 2016

Sunday: Advent 3 | Sermon Text: Matthew 11:2-11

Advent 3
Matthew 11:2-11
December 11, 2016

“There’s Only One”

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Whatever else good or bad you could say about our next President, you can say that he’s one of a kind, right? There’s only one Donald Trump, right? We say that about a lot of people. There’s only one Michael Jordan or there’s only one Michael Jackson. Well, that’s fine, but of course it’s actually true about every single one of us. There’s only one person in the entire world like you. Only one person with your DNA, only one with your fingerprint, only one with your unique voice.

Now that also means there’s only one Jesus of Nazareth, son of Mary. He also had a unique DNA, unique fingerprint, and unique voice. So there’s only one you. There’s only one Jesus. Now God has promised that one of us—one of us unique humans—would be born to save the world. John the Baptist knows this in our Gospel reading today. There’s only One person who will save the world. So John the Baptist’s question in the Gospel reading today is—out of all the unique people in the world, is this one unique guy, Jesus of Nazareth, son of Mary, specifically THEE One? Is He the Messiah? Is Jesus the One, out of everyone else in the world, to save the world?

This would seem to be an important question. Is Jesus THEE One to save me and everyone else in the world? Is Jesus the One I should trust above all others and entrust my life into His hands? Or am I the one who will save myself? Do I know just as well as Jesus does?

Look at John the Baptist sitting in prison in the Gospel reading today. This is the question he’s struggling with. Has he been right all this time? Is Jesus really THEE guy? Or did he make a mistake? John certainly would have done things differently. He wouldn’t be sitting in Herod’s prison where, as we know, he will soon be beheaded.

Now remember that Jesus and John the Baptist are cousins. Their mothers, Mary and Elizabeth, were cousins. So you know how it often is with cousins—you can banter back and forth a little bit. It’s family, you know. So I think John was especially comfortable, as a cousin of Jesus, to send over this question and just lay it all out there, “Look, cousin, are you really who you say you are? Were you being serious all this time? You really are the Christ? The Messiah? You really are the One? Be straight with me, cousin.”

Now this really is THEE question, you see. It’s the most important question you’ll ask in your entire life. Is Jesus THEE One? Is He the One to save me?

John the Baptist may be struggling with that question because he’s just sitting in prison waiting around. It is so hard to sit around and wait. Don’t we all know this? It is hard to sit around and wait? Think about John the Baptist, pacing around his prison cell, wondering if he’s going to ever get out of there, wondering every day if that day will be his last. His mind is racing. And he’s going over and over this question—Is Jesus the one to save the world?

For you and me, it’s also very hard to sit and wait. When life is moving along as it’s normal breakneck pace—and you’re running around to work and school and family gatherings and shopping and sports and music and doctor appointments and vacations and everything else we busy ourselves with—when life is moving along normal we don’t think about this bigger question as much. We just keep moving day to day to day.

But when we have to sit and wait—then it gets hard. When a close family member dies, and we have to sit around and wait because nothing else seems so important anymore. And we sit around and wait with family and funeral arrangements. And that’s when we’ll ask a question like John the Baptist—Jesus, are you the One? Are you the One to save the world? And save me?

Or when you’re sick and in pain—and all you can do it sit around and wait and wait and wait for the pain to go away. And wait for the next treatment or the next medicine—and all of those normal busyness things just aren’t as important anymore—then you begin to ask a question like John the Baptist—“Jesus, are you really the One? Are you the One to save me and the rest of this world?”

Or when you’re sitting and waiting for things to make sense. When your life is upside down and nothing is going as you plan and nothing is making sense and the world just keeps on chugging along without you and you’re feeling lonely and depressed—then you ask like John the Baptist, “Jesus, are You the One for me? Are You the One to save the world?”

THAT is an important question. Is Jesus the One?

Well, there is one thing about Jesus that makes Him a bit different from every single one of us and a bit different from every other person that has ever lived on this earth. It’s more than just a different fingerprint and a different voice. Jesus has a different Father. Jesus wasn’t born of an earthly father as you were. He was born of God the Father in heaven. He is fully one of us and yet also fully God.

This means that out of all the rest of the unique people on earth including yourself, Jesus is the only One who is uniquely capable of saving you and the rest of the world. There’s only One Jesus. And He is THEE One. The One that God specifically sent into this world to save you.

So Jesus sends words back to John, His cousin, “Hey, cousin, look at what I’m doing. The blind are seeing again. The lame are walking. Lepers are being healed. The deaf are hearing again. The dead are being raised up. And the poor are having good news preached to them. Can you believe this, John? Have you ever seen anyone else in the history of the world who can make blind people see or make dead people walk again? There’s only One who can do that. Yes, cousin, I’m the One.”

Jesus ends with these words, “Blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” See, there’s really only two options. Either you will be offended by Jesus or blessed by Jesus. He IS the One. The one to save the world. There’s no getting around it. So either you’ll be offended by Him and you won’t like the things He does and the things He says and you’ll think that you could save the world a whole lot better than He has done. Many in the world are just that—offended by Jesus. They think HE is ridiculous. Or you will be blessed by Him. You will believe that of all the people in the earth-He alone is the One who can save you and save the world.

And Jesus is the One. He’s the only One who is able to save you from your sins. He is the only One who could live a perfect life for you and then hand it over on the cross. No one else can do that for you. He is the only One who is stronger than death and so He died your death for you on the cross and rose from the dead on Easter morning so that you can live forever in heaven.

There’s only One Jesus. You and I are not Him. John the Baptist wasn’t Him. We cannot save the world. Only Jesus. He’s the One for you. Whenever you’re sitting and waiting like John the Baptist—remember this. There’s no other one to save you. He’s the Only One who can save you from your own sin and from the devil and from death. He’s the only one who can makes all things work together for your good. He’s the Only One who can promise You that He will never leave you nor forsake you. He is the One for you. Always. Always.

Now, this Sunday gives opportunity to say one more thing that’s important to remember once in a while. And that’s about why we have pastors and what their job is. John the Baptist had just one job and he wanted to get it right. His only job was to help others see and know Jesus. And that is the whole reason Jesus has given all other pastors. Jesus knows we all have a hard time sitting and waiting. He knows we all have many doubts and many tribulations. So He gives pastors to always, always be helping us to see and know that Jesus is the One for us.

In our second reading today from 1 Corinthians, Paul is trying to make the same point. People were getting all wrapped up in who their pastor was. Some were saying they followed Apollos and some were saying they followed Paul. They were making the pastors out to be the important ones. Paul says, “No, no, no.” You’re missing the point. This is how one should regard us, he says, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Pastors are nothing. Just servants and stewards. That’s all they are. Their whole job is to be servants who bring Jesus and His mysteries to us. So through preaching and through Baptism and through the Lord’s Supper—all a pastor does is just over and over tell us that Jesus is the One and bring His forgiveness to our souls that need it. May we never forget that and start acting like my pastor is all that important—it’s just what my pastor does. He helps us to see THEE One—the Only One—Jesus Christ, your Savior. Amen.

Advent 3 December 13, 2015

Sunday: Advent 3 | Sermon Text: Matthew 11:2-11

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