“The One Who is to Come”

(Matthew 11:1-15)

Series: God’s Fulfilled Promise [on screen]

Rev. Matthew C. McCraw, EdD

First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida

June 16, 2019

The Passage

Matthew 11:1-15

1 When Jesus had finished giving instructions to his twelve disciples, he moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns. 2 Now when John heard in prison what the Christ was doing, he sent a message through his disciples 3 and asked him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

4 Jesus replied to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news, 6 and blessed is the one who isn’t offended by me.”

7 As these men were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? 8 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? See, those who wear soft clothes are in royal palaces. 9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written: See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.

11 “Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has appeared, but the 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 been suffering violence, and the violent have been seizing it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if you’re willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who is to come. 15 Let anyone who has ears listen.

Introductory Comments:

Have you ever doubted something? Perhaps you’ve asked, “Are you sure they won’t think I’m weird? Are you sure that he’s the right pastor for us? Do you think this will hold me? Are you sure you want to have another kid? Is this the right school for me? Should I have eaten that second burrito? Did I make the right investment? Is there really a God? Is Jesus really the Messiah?”

That last question is the very question which John the Baptizer struggled with in today’s passage. 

The answer to that question is the most important question which we can wrestle with as followers of God. Is Jesus really the Christ?

Today, we’re going to learn that He is and how that affects us. 

Let’s pray together before we go any farther. 

(prayer)

What does it mean for us that Jesus is the Christ?

Going to church and living as a Christian are not merely exercises in living out nice little moral lives.

We live as changed people because we really believe that Jesus is the Messiah. He really is the One who came. 

John asked this question concerning Jesus and we can see how the answer to that question affects us. 

We’re going to see this morning that Jesus is the One, John paved the way for Him, and there are blessings for those of us who follow Him. 

First, . . .

I. Jesus is the one who came (1-6) [on screen]

We learn that John the Baptist is in prison at this point. He cannot directly ask Jesus this question, so he sends his followers to ask Jesus. 

Look at verses 1-6. 

1 When Jesus had finished giving instructions to his twelve disciples, he moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns. 2 Now when John heard in prison what the Christ was doing, he sent a message through his disciples 3 and asked him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

4 Jesus replied to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news, 6 and blessed is the one who isn’t offended by me.”

John doubted. John wondered if Jesus really was the One who was to come. Was He really the Messiah? Was He really the Christ?

We might be tempted to ask, “How could John t