sermon - what are you looking for (luke 7.18-35)

8/14/2019 Sermon - What Are You Looking For (Luke 7.18-35)

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o These miracles are good and all. But the corrupt rulers are still in power, and thejudgment of the wicked has not occurred. And, um, I am wasting away in prison. DidI get this wrong? Are you indeed the Messiah, or are we still waiting?

o Dashed expectations = disappointment with Jesus doubt.

20 And when the men had come to him, they said, John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, Are you

the one who is to come, or shall we look for another? 21 In that hour, he healed many people ofdiseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight.

Jesus first answer: a visual display of kingdom power;

o Think about the stories of each and every one of these people, stories of trial andsorrow, and then when they came in contact with the kingdom power of Jesus, theirstories were transformed into unbelievable joy.

Signs of the kingdom: (1) reversal of the curse; (2) a foretaste of heaven.

22 And he answered them, Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight,the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the goodnews preached to them.

Jesus second answer: a verbal declaration of kingdom power.

o Each phrase is a reference to Isaiahs predictions of the coming Messiah (cf. Isa.26:19; 29:18ff; 35:5ff, and 61:1).

The facts speak for themselves: Jesus is the promised Messiah, the coming Kingdestined to rule over all.

23 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.

Greek word for offended is the word from which we get the word scandalize.

o You are blessed if you are not offended by my mysterious ways. You may not get allyour prayers answered, you may suffer disappointment and frustration as a result offollowing me, but blessed is the one who continues to trust in me.

Note: Jesus didnt explain to John why hes still in prison or why Gods judgment has notfallen on their oppressors. IOW, Jesus didnt address all of his concerns or questions

o Instead, he simply says, If I am who I am, then trust me. If I am the Promised One,then trust me with those things that you dont understand or dont yet make sense.Trust that I am at work even when what Im doing doesnt make sense.

24 When Johns messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: What didyou go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 What then did you go out tosee? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live inluxury are in kings courts.


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Were you looking for royalty? Or did you go out because God had sent a prophet?26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is he of

whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your waybefore you.28 I tell you, among those born of women, none is greater than John. Yet, the one who isleast in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

Not just any prophet, but the greatest prophet graced with the greatest privilege to share

the greatest news: the long awaited Kingdom is arriving in the person & work of Jesus.

o As distinguished a privilege as this was, it is nothing in comparison with the privilegegranted to those who repent & believe the gospel. The lowliest person in mykingdom has a greater position than simply being the herald of the kingdom.

29 (When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having beenbaptized with the baptism of John, 30 but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of Godfor themselves, not having been baptized by him.)

Hughes 270, Johns baptism had become a spiritual continental divide in Israel. Johnsbaptism required confession and repentance of ones sins, and ones willingness or

unwillingness to do so made all the difference.

o Since the Pharisees didnt classifythemselves as sinners, then they had no need forJohns message of repentance, and no need for Jesus message of salvation.

31 To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are likechildren sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, We played the flute for you, and youdid not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.

This generation refers to those who follow in the footsteps of the religious leaders.

Childish taunt seems to be: John is to pessimistic, always harping on judgment whenwe want grace and love. Jesus is too optimistic, always focusing on grace and lovewhen we want judgment!

33 For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, a nd you say, He has a demon.34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, Look at him! A glutton and adrunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners! 35Yet wisdom is justified by all her children.

Some rejected John because of his ascetic lifestyle and calls to repentance. Somerejected Jesus because of his joyful lifestyle and hanging out with all the wrong people.John was too austere; Jesus was too joyful.

Gods wisdom is revealed in those who respond to his message on his terms.

So, why did Luke record these stories in his historical biography of Jesus?

He wants us to see that all the miracles Jesus did point to one thing: He is the promised Kingof Gods Kingdom. He is the Savior, the Messiah, the Lord, who is also the friend o f sinners.

And because he is all this, he can be trusted, even if you dont fully understand everything.

Main Idea: When we are tempted to doubt because we are disappointed with Jesus,


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we must remember that Jesus is the King of Gods Kingdom, not ours.

Application:

1. Prize Christs kingdom above all else.

Jesus said, I have come to do your will, O God (Hebrews 10:7).

Samuel Rodigast, 1676, Whateer My God Ordains Is Right (trans. C. Winkworth)

Whateer my God ordains is right / Holy his will abidethI will be still whateer He does / And follow where He guideth He is my God though dark my roadHe holds me that I shall not fall / Wherefore to Him I leave it all

Whateer my God ordains is right / He never will deceive me He leads me by the proper path / I know He will not leave meI take content what He hath sent

His hand can turn my griefs away / And patiently I wait His day.

Whateer my God ordains is right / Though now this cup, in drinking May bitter seem to my faint heart / I take it all, unshrinkingMy God is true each morn anewSweet comfort yet shall fill my heart / And pain and sorrow shall depart

Whateer my God ordains is right / Here shall my stand be taken Though sorrow, need, or death be mine / Yet I am not forsakenMy Fathers care is round me thereHe holds me that I shall not fall / And so to Him I leave it all.

2. Battle doubt by trusting Godsheart.

Trials confront us with two unavoidable questions: Is God good, & can He be trusted?

God is too wise to be mistaken / God is too good to be unkind / When you dontunderstand / when you cant see his hand / when you cant trace his plan / trust hisheart.

Conclusion:Heidelberg #1, What is your only comfort in life and in death? That I belong, body and soul, in

life and death, not to myself but to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ who at the cost of his ownblood has fully paid for all my sins and completely freed me from the devil; that he protects meso well that apart from the will of my Father in heaven, not a hair can fall from my head apartfrom his will; indeed, that everything must fit his purpose for my salvation

sermon - what are you looking for (luke 7.18-35)

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