The Great Question

Matthew 11: The One Who Gives you Rest PART I
Rev. Leo Schuster
07 September 2014

Matthew 11: 1-6
1After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach on the town of Galilee.

2When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3to ask him, "are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?"

4Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5The 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.  6Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me."

What questions come to us when life gets difficult?
--Take them to Jesus, as John the Baptist did.

Jesus's miracles are previews of things to come
--They are a partnership with us as we weave a Christian life.

Struggle to believe
--Don't stumble to unbelief and don't allow it to keep you away from Jesus Christ.

Keller mp3
v.6 -  Blessed is the one who doesn't get offended by me--Jesus is offensive because it implies that we can't make our own decisions and only Jesus can save us--we need a master and a Lord.

JOHN'S CONDITION
--v.2 in prison

JOHN'S QUESTION (DOUBT)
--v.3 Expressing Doubt-Are you the one?
--Jesus has said nobody is greater than John the Baptist--which implies that anyone can doubt.
--Jesus not offended by doubters.

JESUS' CREDENTIALS
--How can you be the Messiah when we are surrounded by Jesus.
--v.5-6 references Isiah 35 which was good news for the poor.
--Jesus cares for the poor--literally and the poor in spirit.
--Jesus came in weakness to bear judgement.
--Messianic salvation has flowed from the weak in Elijah and Elisha

God's grace only comes to those who aren't satisfied in their weakness.
Big view of our sin allows us to see the beauty of what He did for us.