Sermon - Advent 3 - Matthew 11:2-11 - 2017

Doubts. Every Christian has them. It’s not just doubting Thomas, but everyone, I’ve had them, you’ve had them, doubts. You wonder, is it all real, is it all true, or is it all just some big elaborate joke? Has my life been a waste? Am I wrong? Have I wasted my time and energy? Doubts.

The disciples of John doubted that Jesus was the Messiah. They complained about Jesus to John, saying, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” They were jealous that people were following after Jesus instead of John. They had doubts that Jesus was the Messiah.

John the Baptist may even have had doubts that Jesus was the Messiah. Here John the Baptist had been preaching “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” He prophesied of a great and mighty coming Messiah who was going to come and judge the earth, yet Jesus came healing people and forgiving their sins. Jesus didn’t exactly look like the Messiah that John was expecting. That alone could lead a person to doubt.

But on top of that, John had been thrown in prison by King Herod to wait to have his head chopped off and served on a platter. I don’t know about you, but that kind of thing might intimidate me a little bit and cause me to question my life choices and my beliefs up to that point. I suspect that John probably had at least a few doubts along with his disciples. 

Which is why John sends his disciples to Jesus to ask the question: “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” John and his disciples weren’t unbelievers, rather they simply had doubts. The manner in which Jesus answers reveals that they still believed, because He doesn’t answer with a simple yes or no, instead He tells them to “hear and see.” By Jesus’ actions and words, He reveals Himself to be the coming one, the Messiah, who comes to comfort the doubting. 

Jesus points them to see and hear that “the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.”

These were the same works long foretold of Him by the prophets. Isaiah alone prophesied that “your dead shall live” and “the deaf shall hear and the eyes of the blind shall see” and again “the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped” or again the Messiah shall “bring good news to the poor.” When Jesus points to the miracles that He’s doing, He’s really pointing to the scriptures which He fulfills by performing these miracles. 

So what should we do when we are faced with doubts that assail us? We should do exactly as Jesus tells us to do: hear and see His Words that He proclaims to us. In Jesus’ Words are promises that forgive sins and comfort troubled consciences. In His Words do we find enduring hope for salvation that will bring life to all who hear them. Jesus’ Words have the power to dispel the gloom of darkness and shatter Satan’s throne of lies and doubts which he sows in our hearts. 

Do you see what great power Jesus’ Words have now? By the power of His Word He heals people of their physical ailments, He gives us ears to hear the gospel read, eyes of faith to see the scripture’s words, feet to walk upon the way, and life to breathe through break of day. We are the poor who have good news preached to us. 

This is the power of the ministry of the Word which Christ has entrusted to His church on earth. In particular Christ has entrusted His office of the Holy ministry to His servants, pastors. “This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” God especially works in His ministry of the Word through His servants of the Word: Pastors. The prophets of old were given to speak this Word just as pastors of today must faithfully proclaim this word of repentance and forgiveness.

“And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” Jesus’s Words as spoken by the bulwark of the Christian faith, John the Baptist, calls us to repentance. Jesus’ Word enlightens our hearts and exposes our wicked, sinful thoughts, words, and deeds. No one is spared of this exposing, convicting light of God’s Word. Could you imagine if all of our sins were revealed to the world right now, as if our every evil deed was shouted from the roofs and written upon our foreheads. None of us could look each other in the eyes, we’d all simply walk out of here ashamed, hiding our faces. No one is innocent, no one is clean, and so all are called to repentance. “Blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

John the Baptist was not afraid to speak God’s powerful Word of repentance to all. He was not a reed shaken by the wind. He even went so far as to speak it to king Herod, rebuking the evil things Herod has done. But Herod and his wife Herodias were offended at the Word, arresting John the Baptist and eventually executing him. For that is the power and the way of princes and kings upon the earth. When confronted with opposition they arrest and torture and slay their opponents into silence.

But let this never be a description of you, my brothers and sisters in Christ! For the power given to you is found only in the Word, in this Word is given the power to repent and the power to forgive. When you are faced with great opposition, don’t give into the temptation to fight fire with fire, instead fight fire with the Word of our God. 

In fact, when faced with plagues of doubt spread by Satan, fight it with the Word! When faced with lies and wickedness from our fellow man, fight it with the Word! When you look for a faithful pastor, don’t look for one easily shaken by every wind of doctrine, nor one who comes clothed in a way that only pleases the eyes. Look for one who isn’t afraid of the Word, who knows of its power, and should your pastor start to go soft, encourage him to stiffen up and clearly preach the word!

 I’ve had some of you ask why I call our leaders to repentance in our prayers, so let this be your answer: If it was good enough for John the Baptist, then it is good enough for us. The Word is our power and with it the Lord shall lift up every valley and make every mountain low. By the power of His Word our doubting hearts shall be stilled and our sinful disposition forgiven. The greatest power upon the earth has been given to us Christians in the Word of God. By this Word shall God’s will be done upon the earth.

When His powerful Word is preached to you and exposes your sins, as it hopefully does every time you hear it, be ye not offended! Instead listen to His Word and permit it to shape you and form you to His will, as a lump of clay is formed by the potter. 

Trust me, this isn’t always easy or pleasant. This has happened to me on numerous occasions throughout my life. I suspect that it will continue to happen as long as I study God’s Word: the more I hear, the more I am shaped and formed. An example from my life:

For many years I believed that since God forgives my sins this means that He had done away with the law. I believed that it was impossible to obey the law at all, even feebly, and that in fact the law was bad and good works actually harmed a person. It wasn’t until half way through seminary that a professor finally showed me scripture and revealed my error and false belief. In fact the law is good, it’s God’s law! Good works are an expected outcome of faith in Christ! 

Through the Word I was changed. It wasn’t pleasant, I’ll tell you that right now; to discover that I was wrong hurt. My pride was injured. But it was good for me, it formed me to God’s holy will and removed from me error’s ways. I encourage you to listen to God’s Word and permit it to change you as well, in fact, expect God’s Word to change you! Don’t be offended when you discover you were in the wrong, rather be delighted to know that God loves you enough that He will go to the effort of reshaping you according to His image. 

As God’s Word continues to reshape you and form you to His will, He removes from you your every sin, He takes away your doubts, and He comforts you in your sorrows. While John the Baptist may have come like a bull in a china shop, tearing down every idol from our hearts, he was simply preparing the way for Christ. Jesus comes as shepherd who gathers His lambs in His arms, speaking tenderly to you “Comfort, comfort, ye My people… your warfare is ended, your iniquity pardoned.” 

Though our hearts may have to change, “the word of our God will stand forever.” When you doubt, as we are all bound to do, flee to God’s enduring Word. Go to your pastor and talk to him, the minister of the Word which God has placed in your life. Go to your baptism, remember that Christ has made you His own, even when you doubt. Go to the supper and be fed with the body and blood of Christ, eat of His Word that promises you of His loving presence. It may seem counterintuitive, but when you begin to doubt the Word, the best place for you to be is in the Word. In this Word you will see and hear of Christ’s all atoning love for you. Have no doubt, Christ is here.