"7 As these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ palaces! 9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written,
‘Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You,Who will prepare Your way before You.’
We are literally living in the days where every evil deed, every conceivable sin is being accepted, condoned and even celebrated. Because of the anonymity of the internet and wireless technology it has allowed people to pursue every wicked deed under the sun. The result of straying from God's designed path has been destructive, far-reaching and devastating. I believe our society is literally unraveling before our very eyes.
The first thing we should note, is John's personal character. He was a man who could overcome his weakness, he was able to rise above his circumstances. There seems to be few people who can today, everybody is a victim. We live in a society that accepts no personal responsibility for their failings and problems. Instead, they blame anyone and everyone for their infirmities. In their own ignorance, claiming to be wise. In their own laziness, they claim to be oppressed. They quickly blame their parents, circumstances, others and even race for their unfulfilled expectations and unwillingness to overcome. I have personally known many people, from all upbringings, economic backgrounds, races and disabilities who were able to become very successful people, rising high above where they first began.
As I stated before, John’s doubt concerning Jesus was not one rooted in unbelief, but rather in
his concern that Jesus was not fulfilling the Old Testament Scriptures. John didn't complain, telling everyone all his problems, blaming outside influences for being in prison. In his doubt, he immediately went to the Lord with his lack of information and understanding. In prison, a long way away from where Jesus was, it was not an easy task, in his greatness he overcame his circumstances and dispatched two of his disciples to where Jesus was. John was humble and able to get past his weakness.
In John 3, he said "He must increase, but I must decrease." John had no false delusions of who he was or what he came to do. And in Matthew 3, he said "As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." John knew he was sent to prepare the way for God’s kingdom, so that we may experience God’s kingdom through Jesus.
John was familiar with the Old Testament, that the Messiah would come into power to subdue His enemies and establish His kingdom. And in our text, John was humble enough to say, "I don't have all the answers. I don't know all there is to know." So he sought to gain clarity and understanding from the One Who did. John had not seen what Jesus' disciples had seen, nor had he heard all that the disciples heard, his knowledge of Christ was limited. A lesson I believe our culture would do well to learn today, where everyone thinks he is an expert about everything. If you can't first acknowledge your own weakness, you cannot grow. False pride inhibits growth.
John faced Herod’s sin, face to face and nose to nose and told him his illicit marriage was a sin, he told him the truth about the awaiting judgment of fire that would burn them both. In fact, it was that truth that landed him in prison, and for what he would soon be beheaded and delivered on a plate.
As I was preparing for this message, I couldn't help but to think about all of those who willingly put their life on the line, standing for the truth. Who denied themselves, were thrown into prison, even martyred for the work of Christ. Many today are diverted by their desire for fleshly lusts and personal comfort. True greatness understands the need of self-denial. Many of the religious leaders of that day were attracted to Herod, the scribes even took off the plain clothes, which was their mark, to put on the ornate, luxurious robes offered by Herod's court. The testimonial of a true sell-out! Today, many claim to follow Christ but are unable to sustain His teaching, selling out to a world's system of sin. Like Christ, John stood apart from the religious institutions, uninterested in gaining favor from people but upholding the Truths of God. An attribute not seen in many self-proclaimed followers of Christ today..
A true teacher of the Word has the responsibility of preparing the hearts of the people for His coming. What a tremendous honor and privilege it is to be a pastor, one that must not be taken lightly.
Verse 12, "From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force." Like Christ, John created violence, when he confronted the Jewish religious leaders, calling them a "brood of vipers." I love that. Two thousand years since Christ's crucifixion and the violence still goes on. God's Truth has been met with violence ever since Jesus came along. Even to this day, the Kingdom of heaven is suffering violence. Those who continue to truly represent Christ are being attacked, persecuted, thrown in prison, even martyred by those vigorously reject Jesus Christ.
In John 15, Jesus said "If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well." They were not only kill the preacher but were willing to kill the King Himself. John the Baptist had a tremendous impact on people, they were repenting of their sins, and turning toward to God. Because of their own sinfulness, they violently took possession of the kingdom of heaven as well as those who dared to break their tradition. The Kingdom was moving ahead under the influence of John, in spite of those who were violently and aggressively taking that kingdom. In stark contrast to what many believe today, you don't easily follow Jesus Christ, nor do you easily enter His kingdom. If you're going to come to Christ, you must deny yourself and take up your cross.
Matthew 7:13-14, "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it." Nothing in Christ's teaching ever implied that it was easy to enter into His Kingdom. Yet many continue to believe a false theology, taught by the agents of Satan and his demons, that you can continue to live an ungodly life, marked by easy believism and cheap grace, rather than learning for themselves and living by the Truth of God's Word. The hard Truth is the Kingdom of God is not for unrepentant sinners, worldly compromisers, waverers of Truth, who seek Christ hoping to collect their eternal inheritance.
Verse 13, "For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John." From the beginning, Genesis to John, it was always one message; the Messiah is coming. John preached the same message, over and over: "The Messiah is coming, repent, the kingdom of God is at hand."
In verse 14, "And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come."
The Old Testament prophets were not given the entire prophetic picture, but a divinely-inspired piece of the puzzle. They searched their own writings and others, in an attempt to fully grasp what it all meant. They had to learn to be content serving others, with the awareness that these prophecies would be later fulfilled. Obviously, John was not the real Elijah. In Luke chapter 1, we read " It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
Malachi 4 says "Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse." Just Elijah, John would come as a forerunner proclaiming the Messiah is coming to set up His kingdom on earth. Like many before us, John's problem was one that only time can solve, and as we now proclaim these Truths of prophecies that will later come to pass.
That brings us to our final verse for today, verse 15 "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
In Closing..
The Kingdom of God is a two-fold offer; receive Christ into your heart and receive the eternal Kingdom. Yet, still today many refuse to fully receive Christ into their hearts, forfeiting the eternal Kingdom. Today, I proclaim the same message as both John the Baptist and of Christ Himself proclaimed over and over, "Repent for the kingdom of heaven at hand."
All of these events we are witnessing today are signs of what's to come, prophesied in Scripture. I pray that many receiving this message will be filled with humility, gratitude and burning desire to heed this warning and become citizens of God's eternal Kingdom.
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen