Third Sunday of Advent: Year- A

First Reading: Isaiah 35:1-6.10: God himself is coming to save you.

Second Reading: James 5:7-10: Do not lose heart, because the Lord’s coming will be soon.

The Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11: Are you the one who is to come, or have we got to wait for someone else?

The Assurance:

Given to a Questioning Disciple, John the Baptist, Mt 11:1-6

In John the Baptist’s mind, the Messiah was coming to baptize people with the Spirit of God and fire (Mt 3:11; Lk 7:21-23). But Jesus was baptized with the Spirit of God and he was doing nothing about baptizing with fire, the messianic fire of judgment. John must have wondered why Jesus was delayed in carrying out what he himself had announced about him under the influence of the Spirit.: to cut the trees that yielded no fruit, to burn away the useless chaff, punishing Herod and people like him (Mt 3:10,12). To John’s mind, Christ was fulfilling only half of the prophecies concerning the Messiah (Mt 1:1, 18; 3:11;11:2-3, 5-6;12:16; 22:42; Lk 7:21-23). John was confused in prison.

Perhaps, John started doubting if he had been mistaken; perhaps this man, Jesus, was not the Messiah after all-and all his life and suffering had been in vain. He sent two disciples to ask, and Jesus used the opportunity to vindicate His Messiahship.

1. Jesus ended the commissioning of His disciples (v.1)

a. He sent them out

b. He began to minister again-alone

2. John’s perplexity: Pictured a stern Messiah (v.2-3)

a. Jesus’ works were works of love

b. John questioned: Expected a Messiah of judgment, not love

3. Jesus’ assurance: He was beyond question the Messiah (v.4-6)

a. He spoke as Messiah

b. He demonstrated the power and works of the Messiah

c. He fulfilled prophecies of the Messiah

d. He preached the gospel of the Messiah

e. He promised both the blessing and judgment of the Messiah

Thought: John did not fully understand Jesus, and to be honest, we all lack understanding; yet what is needed is for us to do what John did.

·       He trusted Jesus Christ anyway.

·       He committed his life to proclaim that Jesus was the Messiah and continued to proclaim the message even though he did not fully understand.

·       He sought answers to what he did not understand.

·       He did not let his questions destroy his faith.

·       We should not fear nor be ashamed because we may not understand or have questions about Jesus. In fact, it is good to make absolutely sure in all matters concerning our salvation. We should seek and ask unashamedly (Jas 1:5).

·       John was not weary in looking for the Messiah. He said he would keep on looking if Jesus were not the Messiah. We must not become weary and doubting because He has not yet returned (2Pt 3:3-4,8-18).

·       John’s questioning began when he was in prison facing great trouble and trial.

·       John had questions arise in his mind. Even the strongest is not always strong no matter who they are (Mt 26:36-46,69-75; Gal 2:11f). severe trials are often a great strain upon our faith. In such times, we need His strength and assurance (1Pt 4:12-13;5:7,10; 2Cor 1:3-4;2Tim 1:7; Heb 12:3).

·       John believed the Scripture and looked for the Messiah’s first coming. We are to believe the Scriptures: He has come and He is coming again (Jn 14:2-3, 1 Thes 4:13f; Titus 2:12-13).

·       John was not a wavering reed but a man firm in his conviction as a prophet, the Messiah’s forerunner, the herald of the true king, the greatest of the natural men, the last of age, the age predicting the Messiah and he was a promised Elijah, the one to precede the Messiah.

Jesus spoke as one having authority: He spoke, taught, and preached as the Messiah (Mt 7:28-29; Jn 14:10). Jesus demonstrated the power and works of the Messiah. Jesus was saying that His works and concern (love) were the works and concern predicted for the Messiah. Jesus did not just profess to be the Messiah, He proved it as God’s Son, the Messiah (Jn 14:10-11). Jesus encouraged John not to be offended by Him.

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