December 14, 2025 Sermon
Sermon Title: “John the Baptist in Prison”
Scripture: Matthew 11:2-11
(Other lectionary suggestions include Isaiah 35:1-10, Luke 1:47-55, and James 5:7-10.)
Matthew 11:2-11
Messengers from John the Baptist
2When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples 3and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” 4Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. 6And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”
Jesus Praises John the Baptist
7As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? 8What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. 9What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10This is the one about whom it is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ 11“Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
Once again, we have a John the Baptist story. I must say that we do the Repentance part of Advent pretty hard. And I’m not really sure why. You and I would both prefer singing sweet Christmas carols, but we are sent toward the seriousness of the coming of the Lord. At least two of the other lectionary suggestions seem to stress HOPE. Mary’s song, sometimes called the “Magnificat,” says the Lord has filled the hungry with good things, and even Jesus is flirting with hope when John sends his disciples to ask if Jesus is the one they were waiting for. And Jesus says, Tell John this: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, and those with skin diseases are healed. The dead are raised, and the poor have good news preached to them. In a way, Jesus seems to be saying, “What do YOU think?”
I found this on Bible Gateway, another choice for different aspects of John the Baptist. When John wonders if Jesus is the one to come, he is expressing first-century thought that the real Messiah will be a conquering one, not a kingdom-building, healing kind of ministry that Jesus seemed to be favoring. So, Jesus’s actions didn’t fit with what most people wanted: a warrior-type Messiah. In a way, I have to feel sorry for John the Baptist. He dies at the hands of Herod Antipas before Jesus comes into his own.
John most likely expected Jesus to bring an earthly kingdom. But Jesus wanted John to be reassured by what he was doing or NOT doing. Even when God does not meet our exact expectations, we can still be confident that he is fulfilling his promises.
Here is more that I found on Bible Gateway.... “As John’s disciples leave, Jesus turns to the crowd and reminds them of how strong and unmovable John was during his ministry to Israel. Jesus declares that not only was John a prophet, but he was the very one that Isaiah prophesied would come to prepare the way for the Messiah. (Malachi 3:1) Among all human beings born up to that point, John is the greatest. Still, the lowest person in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John. The meaning here seems to be that John the Baptist more clearly understood God’s plan than any prophet who came before. Jesus adds that, if his listeners can accept it, John is the spiritual fulfillment of the prophecy that Elijah would return. (Matthew 11: 7-11)
“Jesus makes clear, though, that Israel mostly rejected the preaching of John the Baptist; Israel has also mostly rejected Jesus’ message. Jesus compares the Israelites of his generation to children complaining that their playmates won’t participate in their games. No matter what they see, and no matter what God provides, they simply demand the opposite. Their real motive is to resist, not to submit. Instead of hearing John the Baptist and truly repenting, they decided he had a demon because of his strange and restrictive lifestyle. Instead of hearing Jesus and repenting, this generation decided that Jesus was a glutton and a drunk because he did NOT live a restrictive lifestyle.”
In summary, Matthew’s Gospel clearly shows the influence of its writer’s background, as well as his effort to reach a specific audience. According to Bible Gateway, Matthew was one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. Such a profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus’ words as they were spoken. Matthew’s Gospel is filled with references to the Old Testament, trying to demonstrate to his readers that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Also, more than the other three Gospels, Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus’ teaching. Amen.
Pastor Skip
