[Matthew 11] John’s starting to have second-thoughts about Jesus of Nazareth.

John asks, “Are you THE ONE who is to come, OR SHALL WE LOOK FOR ANOTHER?”

*Imagine your boss comes up to you & asks, “Should I look for another person to do your job?” That stings!

Jesus says, “Tell John that I’ve befriended the destitute (e.g. blind, lame, lepers, deaf, dead, and poor), & BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO IS NOT OFFENDED BY ME.”

  • FACT: You are offended by Jesus. If you say you’re not then you’re (A) lying, or (B) lazy.

יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל

Genesis 32:28
  • APPLICATION: Acquire a TASTE for Jesus of Nazareth (e.g. …Nazareth; 12yrOld; Apostles; 1C2.2).

Jesus asks THE CROWDS,

“Why were y’all attracted to JOHN THE BAPTIST? Were you hoping John would teach you survival techniques? Did John give you Bieber-fever? …John werent’ain’t-no celebrity! John werent’ain’t-no eloquent public speaker! John werent’ain’t-no RC Sproul, John Piper, Tim Keller, Joel Olsteen, TD Jakes, Mark Driscoll, Mike Cosper, Billy Graham, Oprah Winfrey, Selena Gomez, or King Saul. Clearly y’all weren’t drawn to John for any of the traditional, superficial, popularity-oriented, consumeristic reasons that typically draw a crowd. So why’d you go see John in the wilderness? …You went in haste and violence because you was DESPERATE! You can’t get no satisfaction! You try, and you try, and you try; but you can’t get no! No, no, no! So you hungrily sought-out John! And if you have ears to hear, you heard John say things that were greater than anything that’s ever been said! And if you embrace those words, then you’re irrevocably enrolled in something greater than the greatest thing to have ever been great in this shadowland we call ‘the world.’ You are so hungry for something truly great! You yearn for it like Gollum seeks the The Precious! …And there’s only ONE WAY TO BE SATISFIED! Surrender completely to the scandal and offense of Jesus of Nazareth, The Christ, The Crucified King! Repent of your pedestalled preferences. Forsake your sense of entitlement. Dismantle your demands upon God ‘to give you life on your terms.’ Simply surrender and receive what God offers you in person and work of Jesus. Receive the rest of becoming radically reliant upon the God who became weak, and wrought your redemption through His shed blood. Come to Him like a child, learn from Him, and you will find satisfaction for your souls!”

Matthew 11:7-30