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A Powerful and Effective Reply

Text: Matthew 11 : 1 - 19

Jesus knew John well! Surely He would understand this answer He was sending back through his disciples!

“Go and tell John the things which you hear and see…”
Matthew 11:4

John was a very straightforward man. There was no need for pretty speeches as far as he was concerned. Jesus showed that He understood John when He replied as he did.

1. Straightforward language

John preached powerful messages. They appeared to contain short but powerfully constructed sentences. Let us look at some of the things he said.

“Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee
from the wrath to come? Therefore bear
fruits worthy of repentance.”
Matthew 3:7b-8

Each sentence was clipped, sharp and to the point. There was not any attempt to make the words sound nicer. John felt that the best way to speak to the multitudes who came to him was to address the problem of sin in their lives directly.

The manner in which Jesus replied was fashioned to suit John’s way of understanding things.

2. But not without depth

We must not confuse brevity with lack of depth! Jesus could never be a superficial person! What He said may be brief, but the message to be conveyed was filled with obvious power!

The disciples would have just a short word from Jesus to repeat to their master. But they would take back with them more than just words. They would bring back with them what they had heard and seen.

AN ANSWER BACKED BY POWERFUL DEEDS

Even as Jesus spoke to the disciples of John, soon He was thronged by a multitude of people who pressed towards Him, clamouring for His time and attention.

“The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers
are cleansed and the deaf hear…”
Matthew 11:5a

Each word that He spoke, He effected in real life! Jesus was not just preaching! There was obvious Divine Power in His very words. The blind were brought to Him and every blind man received his sight. The lame came hobbling up, and each went away walking with newfound strength. The lepers were wondrously healed. The deaf were able to hear once again!

What did these things mean! The disciples of John did not commit themselves to explaining what they saw. They could not deny what they saw. They would have to return to their master and hear what he had to say!

But there was more. Jesus went on to say,

“…the dead are raised up and the poor
have the Gospel preached to them.”
Matthew 11:5b

The disciples of John heard Jesus preaching the Gospel to the multitudes. They saw those who brought the desperately ill to Jesus. Perhaps some of them must have felt that they had arrived too late. Perhaps some of the sick died along the way! But Jesus was able to raise the dead too! What wondrous things they would have to report to their master, John!

AN ANSWER THAT WOULD REQUIRE MUCH THOUGHT

Jesus knew that though John may have a brusque manner, he was a man capable of great thought. Thus he added this word as a parting thought.

“And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
Matthew 11:6

1. A blessing promised

John would understand this word Jesus spoke to his disciples. He would take time to ponder over what he felt and what the facts were.

Feelings can be so uplifting at times. But feelings can also cause a person to feel upset and depressed. John would be well advised to focus on Facts rather than on Feelings.

2. “Not offended”

The word “offended” is sometimes used to refer to a “stumbling block” (Cf. 1 Corinthians 1:23). John must not allow himself to stumble because of his personal understanding of who “The Coming One” was. John must allow the message that his disciples brought him to convince him of certain definite truths.

a) Jesus was “The Coming One” – The Messiah!

He had proven who He was by what He did. His power was evident. The miracles He performed proved beyond any shadow of doubt that He was the Christ!

b) Trust in the Messiah

If Jesus was indeed the Christ, then He must be Lord too. The Lord had spoken a word to him. He urged him not to be stumbled. In other words, He had urged John to exercise his faith and to trust Him! Could John do that? Yes! He could. He must!