Doubting John?
Matthew 11:2-11
December 17, 2023 anno Domini
John the Baptist knew Jesus before either was born. When pregnant Elizabeth welcomed pregnant Mary, the baby in Liz’s womb John, jumped with faith and joy in the presence of his Savior Jesus, who was in Mary’s womb.
John knew Jesus throughout their childhoods. Jesus was likely a little odd to his friends and relatives. Would you expect God to be otherwise? Did Jesus ace all his tests in school without studying? Did he build a perfect chair on his first attempt in his dad’s wood shop? We don’t know. We do know that he and John were different. John was the son of a high-ranking priest, a PK, a priest’s kid. He knew the ins and outs of the temple and Jerusalem. Jesus was from Nazareth and was a carpenter’s son. Consider how the elites of the Twin Cities look upon outstate Minnesota – rocks and cows.
Then John became famous. He received the call of God to dress like Elijah of old, head into the wilderness across the Jordan, and call people to repentance because the Christ was coming. It had been 400 years since God sent a prophet and now they had one – a new Elijah, in the wilderness like Moses, calling them to repent of their sins and be forgiven in the waters of Baptism. People flocked to John the Baptist, the last of the Old Testament prophets, as they waited for their King.
But John admits he didn’t really know who Jesus was until Jesus’ baptism. When the Spirit of God descended from heaven in the form of a dove and remained on Jesus, John knew. He confessed Jesus of Nazareth as the very Son of God.
Should it surprise us that John had his doubts, or wasn’t sure of Jesus? His weird younger cousin was the Christ, the Son of God in human flesh, the Savior of the world.
By the time we get to the text John had even more reason to doubt. He was a preacher who didn’t mince words. When he called people to repent, he wasn’t playing the parent to little children, “Now say you’re sorry.” John’s preaching demanded the fruit of repentance. If you’re rich share your extra coat and food with someone in need. If you work for the IRS don’t cheat and steal from people. If you’re a soldier do your duty with honor and integrity – don’t use your authority to abuse or sin. But then John preached one too many sermons of repentance. He called Herod Antipas to repent of divorcing his wife and marrying his niece, who it seems was divorced from her husband, Herod’s brother, Philip. If you divorce your wife to marry your brother’s wife don’t be surprised if your pastor shows up. You should be disappointed if he doesn’t. Herod wasn’t a fan of repentance. He enjoyed his sin too much. He threw John the Baptist in prison.
You follow Jesus. You boldly confess the Word. You believe that Jesus is the Christ, and you end up in jail. Or maybe you don’t end up in jail, but you lose your job, or you get sued because of your faith or your family disowns you. Why should we be surprised that John the Baptist doubted? All of you know that following Jesus isn’t a path of ease and honor in this fallen world.
Besides that, Jesus was befriending the very people John told to repent. He was seen on the patio at Granite City eating with sinners, tax collectors, prostitutes. Who knows He might have even dined with a politician or two? He even talked to Pharisees like Nicodemus, the same Pharisees John called a brood of vipers.
So, from his prison cell John sends two of his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” Jesus tells these disciples what He is doing – the same things Isaiah said the Christ would do – he’s giving sight to the blind, making the deaf hear, raising the dead, and preaching Good News to the poor. Then Jesus concludes with this, “Blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
Herod was offended that John the Baptist called him a sinner and told him to repent. John was offended that Jesus was chumming around with sinners and forgiving them. Faith in Christ does not come easily, and it won’t come at all if you’re offended.
You’re a sinner. It’s offensive to be told you’re wrong. Yet that’s where faith starts. The Holy Spirit uses His men – men like John the Baptist to tell you the truth. Like Herod, you’ve used the place or power God has given you to serve yourself. You’ve hurt others to make yourself feel better. You’ve lied to your wife. You’ve made excuses for your sins or your kid’s sins. Repent.
You’re forgiven. That’s the good news and it’s the power which creates faith. If you believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God and that in His flesh on the cross He paid for your sins, you’re forgiven. Forgiveness is also offensive. First, it is offensive because when you forgive your husband, you’re also telling him that he sinned against you. If you don’t want to offend, just tell him it’s OK. But if you want to deal with sin in the only good way say, “I forgive you.” Second, forgiveness is offensive when it is given to someone you don’t like, someone who is too sinful for forgiveness, like prostitutes, tax-collectors, politicians, or the person who abused you.
Finally, the Christian faith is offensive because it requires good works. Your old sinful self is lazy and hard of hearing. When he hears “forgiveness” he hears “permission” to keep on sinning. It is not okay to keep on sinning. Forgiveness isn’t God’s blessing on sinners. Forgiveness comes at the cost of His Son on the cross. God had to die for your sins. Only His blood could atone for what you did. When you believe that great good news, you want nothing to do with sin and everything to do with righteousness. You want to bear fruit in keeping with repentance. That’s going to make you offensive to the world. You’re going to be pro-life. You’re going to confess marriage as one man and one woman. You’re going to call evil evil and sin sin. In case you haven’t noticed the world is going to be offended by you. But don’t take it personally. It’s not you they are offended with. It is Christ and the truth of His Word.
Learn from John. If you have doubts look to Jesus and don’t be offended when you’re called a sinner, when you’re forgiven, or when you’re encouraged to do good works. In the name of Jesus. Amen.