Sermon - Gaudete 20222 - Matthew 11:2-11

St John the Baptist in the Prison, Juan Fernandez Navarrete, 1565-1570

While the church awaits Christ, the church preaches of Christ

1. We speak with boldness

2. We speak against sin

3. Ultimately we speak the good news of Jesus to the poor

John the Baptist had a specific job to do. “This is he of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’” John was the forerunner of Christ, the final prophet who was to prepare the way for Jesus. How does a prophet prepare the way? He preaches. John preached when he called sinners to repentance and baptized with a baptism of repentance. He preached when He pointed the people to the Christ, declaring: “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”

Even when John was arrested for his preaching and sat in prison, he continued to preach: “when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples.” Whether John was doubting or his disciples were doubting, that’s beside the point, because what matters is that John continued to preach by pointing people to Jesus. The same thing is supposed to happen today. While the church awaits the coming of Christ, the church preaches of Christ. Like John the Baptist, we are to speak with all boldness, unhindered by the threats of this world. We speak against Sin, like John did. Ultimately, we speak the good news of Jesus to the poor.

John the Baptist had to be bold in his preaching. Like Jesus said of John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.” The culture that John the Baptist faced was very hostile to Christianity. The morality of his world did not line-up with biblical morality. 

For example, John was in prison because he had condemned the adulterous actions of king Herod. Herod had fallen in love with Herodias, his half-brother’s wife, who was also his niece, so Herod divorced his wife, had Herodias divorce her husband, and then the two of them got married. John the baptist condemned their adultery, incest, divorce, and remarriage, and subsequently ended up in prison.

Or another example of how degenerate their culture was: homosexuality was an issue in those days just as it is in our day. When Jesus refers to a man dressed in soft clothing in king’s houses, he’s referring to the homosexuality which was particularly prevalant among the aristocracy and royalty. So the same issues the Christians faced in the first century we’re facing again today. John the Baptist was bold to confront the controversial issues with which his world was contending. His boldness cost him his life.

This boldness to confront evil is particularly required of pastors. Like St. Paul explained: “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.” Pastors, like the Old Testament prophets, are required to confront the issues at hand, because that is how hearts are prepared for the coming of Christ. 

This boldness however is not only required of pastors, but it’s required of all Christians. The command to be faithful unto death applies to Christians of all stripes, whether young or old, men or women, pastors or laity. The faithfulness required of us consists of actions, but especially, of words. We Christians must be bold to speak the truth, even if it costs us popularity points, our jobs, or even our lives. There’s more at stake here than temporary pleasure or discomfort, rather the eternal souls of those around us, and our own, are on the line. 

So how can we Christians become better at being bold? A large part of this is being certain in what we believe. John the Baptist wasn’t a reed shaken by the wind, instead he knew what was right and wrong, and he knew it certainly. He wasn’t swayed by every wind of doctrine, he wasn’t tricked by every new teaching that pops up. He knew with certainty what God said, and therefore wasn’t swayed by the opinions of men, but remained bold and steadfast in the heat of controversy. 

We have to be able to do that same thing, and we can do it by being certain of our beliefs. We become certain of what we believe when we study and learn deeply the truth of God’s Word. You’re all making a good start when you attend church on Sunday. But this can’t be the only time you study the scriptures since there’s not enough time only once a week for an hour. This is a job meant to be performed daily.

But boldness to speak is only part of the equation, afterall you have to actually say something when you’re bold enough to speak. So what do you say? There’s two things: we speak against sin, and we speak the good news of Jesus.

Like Jesus and John the Baptist, we have to confront the issues of our day which are right in front of us. We have to confess the truth, we must call sinners to repentance and direct people to what is good and right. We can’t in good conscience idly stand by and say nothing while people are falling into sins and falling away from Jesus and eternal life. There’s a risk that they might not like us, but that risk is worth it. John the Baptist was willing to die to take this risk. Pastor James May last week talked about how folks in Africa are risking death in order to tell others about Jesus, because they care more about the eternal life of their loved ones than about their own earthly life. Compared to what they’re suffering, what’s our excuse that we’re going to say isn’t worth the sacrifice? Would we really rather our loved one go to hell so that we don’t have to make any sacrifices?

Because remember what it’s all about! “Jesus answered 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 dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.” That is the heart of why we speak with boldness and against sin! Because we desire to preach good news to the poor! The Gospel of Jesus Christ, that sins are forgiven through the atoning death of Jesus on the cross, is why we open our mouths to speak! It’s not really about all of the sins of our age, but it’s about turning people from their sins to the good news of Jesus! 

“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.” The boldness with which we speak is for the purpose of delivering the comfort of the forgiveness of sins to each other. Our desire is that others would have hope and peace and joy, not in the fleeting pleasures of life, but in the eternal pleasures of God’s kingdom.

So many get sucked into all of the beauty of this life. But the beauty of this life is like the flower of the field. “The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass.” When a person’s hope is found only in this life, then their hope is going to dry up when their life fades away. It’s without doubt that “the grass withers, the flower fades,” but our great hope is that “the word of our God will stand forever.” There’s hope beyond this life and it is found only in Christ. When we speak, our words must always direct people away from these fleeting pleasures and to our eternal God.

Christ Jesus, who is the word made flesh, became man in the womb of the virgin Mary, and was crucified for us upon the tree of the cross, so that our sins and iniquity would be pardoned. The heartaches of this life are swallowed up in Christ’s victory over sin and death. John being in prison and beheaded was worth it, without a doubt, because he pointed so many to Christ and shall on the last day receive the eternal inheritance awaiting him in paradise. May we all be filled with the same Spirit of boldness and joy about the good news of Jesus Christ.