"He Will Bring Good News"
[Matthew 11:2-11]
December (16) 23, 2007 Second Reformed Church
This morning's Scripture is, among other things, a lesson in perspectives.
We're told that John the Baptist was in prison. Matthew records for us that "Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because John had been saying to him, 'It is not lawful for you to have her.' And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet" (Matthew 14:3-5). So John the Baptist had be thrown in prison for telling King Herod that it was wrong to commit adultery with his brother's wife.
Then we're told that John had heard about the miracles Jesus was performing, so he sent his disciples to ask Jesus if He was indeed the One Who was prophesied to come -- the Savior -- or, was someone else yet to come. "Jesus, we've heard about the works You are doing, and we just want to make sure: are You the long awaited Emmanuel? Or is there someone else coming?"
Who was asking the question? Who wasn't sure about Jesus?
The text is written in a way that suggests it was John the Baptist, himself, who was having doubts about Jesus. But is this the correct perspective? Remember, as we saw last week, John was declaring to know the One Who is the Savior, and John said he was not worthy to carry his sandals. And then, "'the next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.' I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel." And John bore witness, 'I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, "He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit." And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God'" (John 1:29-34). Was this same John now doubting Jesus? It's possible.
Another perspective on this could be that John's disciples were doubting, so John sent them to Jesus to get proof from Him, just as God had proven Jesus to John. And John's disciples did go to Jesus and put the question to Him, "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?"
Jesus' answer could have been for John, John's disciples, or both of them: "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the poor have the good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me."
They might have remembered the first time Jesus spoke in the temple -- some of them might have been there. Luke records, "And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering the sight of the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.' And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, 'Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.' And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, 'Is this not Joseph's son?'" (Luke 4:16-22).
The Scripture of the day that Jesus read and preached on from Isaiah comes in a section that speaks of the coming glory of Israel when the Savior will come with healing and good news and restoration for Israel. And Jesus said, "I am the Savior Who has the Holy Spirit dwelling in Him. I am the Savior Who miraculously heals. I am the Savior Who brings good news." And the response of the people was to be amazed at His preaching and then to ask, "Wait a minute, isn't this Joseph's son?"
Jesus told John's disciples to remember this prophecy and see and hear that He has fulfilled it -- miracles are occurring -- and the people are thanking God and recognizing that He is the Savior by His works. He also fulfills the prophecy of being He Who will bring good news for the poor.
The poor are not the financially poor, but the poor in spirit -- the humble -- those who are receptive to the preaching of the Savior. And the good news is that He brings salvation by the cross -- through His Blood Sacrifice of Himself. As Hilary wrote, "What does it mean that the poor have the good news preached to them? Poor people are those who have abandoned their lives, who have taken up his cross and followed, who have been made humble in spirit. For such is the kingdom of heaven is prepared. Because all experiences of this kind come together in the Lord and because his cross was to be a source of offence to many, he declared that the people are blessed if their faith is not threatened by a cross or death or burial" (ACC, NT 1a, 219).
The good news that Jesus preached, as He promised, is offensive to most people -- that's why he said those are blessed who are not offended by Him. The good news was not, as some thought, a human miliary rule -- a great earthly kingdom of Israel, as the Pharisees and Sadducees thought. No, the Good News is that the Savior would live and died and rise from the dead, to the Glory of the Father and for the Salvation of the people He was given. The good news Jesus brought allows His people to say, with Paul, "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). In other words, the meaning of life, the worth of life, is found in knowing and telling others about the salvation of Jesus, but even greater than living that life, is dying and being with Jesus. This life is a glorious service to Christ, but death, in Christ, is so much greater -- greater than everything else.
Understand, this is not being morbid or suicidal. This is a love of living for Christ, living no matter what suffering comes for Christ's Sake, but looking forward to that glorious day of death when Jesus calls us to be in Paradise with Him. The Good News is that believers live for Christ, suffer for Christ, and look forward with joy to dying in Christ. That's why This Little Baby came -- that we would have no fear in life or in death, but have joy in all things in Jesus. Have you heard this Good News?
Let's conclude this morning by taking a quick look at what Jesus did after He explained this to John's disciples: Jesus turned to the crowd and asked the crowd what their perception was on John. Last week, we saw that John was an odd character -- one who was recognized as a prophet by the people -- and Jesus asked them, "What did you go to see?"
"When you went into the wilderness to see John, were you going to see a reed shaking in the wind? Were you going to see a fool? Were you hoping to have a good laugh at his expense?"
"When you went into the wilderness to see John, were you going to see a show? Some crazy eccentric? A wealthy man in soft clothes seeking an audience that he would bless with some sort of gain?"
Jesus asked them if they had gone to see the "Jerry Springer Show." "Was that your perspective? Did you go to see a bunch of nuts and freaks to make yourself feel better? To prove to yourself that you are better than they? Is that why you went to see John?"
"Or did you go because John is a true prophet?" And Jesus proceeded to tell them three things about John:
First, John was a true prophet and much more than a prophet. John was the fulfillment of the one in Isaiah who was to be the messenger of the coming Savior; he would prepare the way for the Savior who was coming. John was the greatest of the prophets, because he was honored to prepared the way for Jesus; he had the honor of announcing, "Behold, the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world!"
Second, John was the greatest merely human being ever born. We mentioned this last week -- John was the greatest merely human being every born to a woman. He was highly honored and favored among mere men, especially in his service in preparing the way for Jesus.
And third, the least person in the kingdom of God is greater than John.
What? How does that make any sense?
Jerome offers this explanation: "Let us interpret it simply to mean that every saint who is already with God is greater that anyone who remains expectant, as yet in battle. For it is one thing to possess the crown of victory, another to be still fighting in the ranks" (ACC, NT 1a, 223).
In other words, John was still alive, still living for Jesus, still fighting the good fight, but those who have completed their race, those who are with the Lord, in Paradise, they are greater because they no longer sin and they exist in the Glory of Jesus twenty-four seven.
Jesus was telling them that John was the greatest prophet, the greatest living mere human, but the good news let you understand and know and confess, "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21).
Have you heard the Good News of the Baby Jesus? It's the cross! The Good News of the Baby Jesus is that He came to live and die and rise again.
I love being an ordained minister -- not because I "only work one hour a week" -- but because I have the high honor of handling the Word of God. For me to live is Christ -- but I long to be where my father is -- to die is gain!
As each year passes, the Advent and Christmas Seasons draw me more strongly toward the Return of our God. And as each year passes, I can confess more strongly, and delightedly, the words of Job, "For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. After my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me" (Job 19:25-27).
Let us pray:
God, our Father, in the midst of our Christmas celebration, let us not forget the Good News that You brought and bought for us by Your Blood. May we rejoice in remembering Your Birth, be drawn strongly to the Good News that is confirmed in Your Life, Death, and Resurrection, and look forward with expectant joy to that day when we are with You and You Return for Your people. In Hope, we pray, in His Name, Amen.
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