Thought on This Chapter
MT 11:2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works
of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
MT 11:3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should
come, or do we look for another?
Earlier John boldly declared Behold the Lamb of
God, which taketh away the sin of the world. Now John is in prison. John
is going thru a trial and he is having doubts. John sends two men to ask
Jesus if He really is the Christ or do we look for another.
MT 11:4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew
John again those things which ye do hear and see:
MT 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame
walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and
the poor have the gospel preached to them.
Jesus gives John an answer in verse 5. And in
each example that Jesus mentions their needs are being met. The blind see.
The lame walk. The lepers are healed. The deaf hear. The dead
are raised. The poor have the gospel preached to them. These things
were also foretold in the Old Testament. Jesus was not only fulfilling
needs, but He was fulfilling prophecy.
Like so many of his day, John thought that Jesus would
bring in the kingdom right then. They foresaw the kingdom but they did not
foresee the cross. Jesus then tells John to not be offended.
MT 11:6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be
offended in me.
John did not understand what Jesus was doing and Jesus
told him to not be offended.
The doubt that John experienced is not unique to John.
I believe that sooner or later in your life, you will not understand something
that God is doing in your life. If you never doubted anything yet, you
most likely will. We need to heed the what Jesus told John and not be
offended. We need to trust in His judgment. We need to have faith
that Jesus has a reason for everything that He does and everything that He
allows.
Now many people heard what Jesus told the disciples to
go and tell John. And I am sure you know how wicked people can be and how
they get the wrong idea and then spread gossip. So Jesus then addresses
the crowd.
MT 11:9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet?
yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.
MT 11:10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold,
I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
MT 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are
born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist:
notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Jesus tells the crowd that John is the greatest born
among women.
Take heart. If the greatest can have doubt, then
it can happen to us from time to time. So what do we do when doubt comes?
The answer is found by looking at the answer that Jesus gave John. His
answer shows Jesus' power, His compassion, His mercy, His love, and how He
fulfilled prophecy. The answer John was given was all about Jesus.
His answer was to get John to think about Him.
When doubt comes we need to focus on Jesus. Read
more of His Word (The gospels are a good place to start). Think about Him
more. Who He is and what He has done. Pray to Him more.
Separate more from the world and do more for Him.
Keep your eyes upon Jesus. That is what we need
to do when doubt comes.
Thought On This Chapter
MT 11:20 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein
most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:
MT 11:21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee,
Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in
Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
MT 11:22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable
for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.
MT 11:23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto
heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been
done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
MT 11:24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more
tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
Mighty works are not enough. Some people will say
if we do this then more people will believe. If we bring the world into
the church, then we will reach more. No you might entertain more, but you
will not reach more. Some will claim that if they saw some great sign,
then they would believe. No. Scriptures teach us that signs are not
enough. Here Jesus upbraids these cities because they had seen great
miracles first hand and did not believe. Great signs are not what is needed.
New methods are not needed. Bringing the world into the church is NOT the
answer.
So what is the answer? The power of God.
1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that
perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
1Co 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world
by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save
them that believe.
Preaching is what God has chosen to reach the lost.
Preaching is the power of God. What is needed is a return to God led,
Spirit filled, preaching. We need to drop the entertaining and the comedy
and return to real conviction bringing preaching.
Joh 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is
expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not
come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
Joh 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world
of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Joh 16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
Joh 16:10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father,
and ye see me no more;
Joh 16:11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world
is judged.
The Holy Spirit works during real preaching. He
convicts men of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. That is the
answer; that is what we need. Holy Spirit empowered preaching.
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