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Teaching Text: Matthew 11: 1-20
After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.
When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written:
“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’
Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. Whoever has ears, let them hear.
“To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
“‘We played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not mourn.’
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”
Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.
Themes
Consider these themes and ask your group what else they see in the passage:
Friends of God | The Kingdom of God Moving Along Lines of Friendship in the Life of Jesus
John the Baptist - the miracle of descent and faith filled questions in the cousin of Jesus
Formation
Thoughts and notes you can use for discussion:
When did you obey Jesus/scripture and the result did not look like you thought it would or wanted it to?
How did you feel when you obeyed and it didn’t work out the way you thought?
"Are you the one who is to come or should we expect someone else?”
Have you ever had a question like that for God?
God is this pain really part of the plan?
Is this disappointment, this diagnosis, this delay really what you want for my life right now?
Or how about this, “God, you see whats going on in the world. Is this really your response?”
Are you not going to do more? Are you not going to show up? Are you not going to change things?
What did I get into this faith thing for in the first place? What can I count on God for?
Do I still believe?
We are going to take these 8 weeks after Epiphany and look at friendship in the life of Jesus.
Are you the one who is to come or should we look for another?
Jesus response :
“Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
– Matthew 11: 4-6
He tells John’s disciples how the Kingdom of God is breaking in.
What would the Kingdom of God look like coming on earth as it is in heaven?
But Jesus tells John these signs of the kingdom - what Dallas Willard calls “the range of God’s effective will” a glimpse of where what God wants to happen is clearly realized.
Blind see, Lame Walk. Sick are cleansed. Deaf hear. Dead Raised. Good news is announced to the poor.
This looks a lot like the list from Isaiah that Jesus reads in Luke 4, which says that today, this has been fulfilled in your hearing.
But Jesus leaves a crucial one out – Freedom for the prisoners.
Interestingly:
John is not getting out of prison.
In fact he is going be killed because of a child’s dance recital in the royal court.
Herod’s niece danced and Herod was taken by it and offered her anything. Her mom told her to ask for the head of John the Baptist on a plate.
This is the ignominious end for one of the greatest prophets in history.
One whom Jesus said was more than a prophet.
His last recorded question for Jesus was…
"Are you the one who is to come or should we expect someone else?”
John was Jesus friend.
He was Jesus cousin.
He was a prophet.
He did the right thing privately and publicly.
And he loses his influence, his freedom, and his head.
So why follow God? Why trust Jesus?
There are a few implications we need to wrestle with from John’s story….
A life of faith and obedience to God can still have tremendous disappointment, doubt, and questions.
God may not act how we expect God to act.
“The way of Jesus is the way of weakness and the Cross. That is where the power of the resurrection flows”
– Pete Scazzaro
God’s presence is our reward
Parents:
Think about what your children need to see about what “successful faith” might look like.
Ask your children
“Why do we obey Jesus?”
“What will happen when they obey Jesus?”
