Advent 3 December 16, 2018 The Sunday of John the Baptist in Prison
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. 21st 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.