Blessed are Those Who are Not Offended by Me

SPEAKER: Dustin Aguilar

SERIES: “Gospel of the Kingdom”

SCRIPTURE: Matt 11:1-6, Isaiah 35:5-6, Luke 4:18-19, Jude 1:22

John the Baptist

Matthew 11:1-6

(V2) “the deeds of the Christ”

- John had heard in prison of works that were being performed by Jesus

Isaiah 35:5-6a - John & the Jews were expecting this “checklist” of the deeds of the Messiah 

Luke 4:18-19 - another Messianic checklist, that Jesus himself reads publicly in the synagogue.

■ It was common after a reading to share when/how various rabbis viewed that scripture would be fulfilled. But on this day, Jesus says HE is fulfilling it

on His own authority.

(V3) “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”

John already knows Jesus is the Messiah, so what’s going on here?

3 Possible Interpretations for why John asks if Jesus is the Messiah:

OPTION 1 - John knows, but his disciples are doubting. So he sends the disciples to ask the question for their own benefit.

OPTION 2 - John is asking this question because he has begun to doubt while sitting in prison.

■ Doubt is a common human outcome from suffering, waiting, and being unsure.

■ Jude 1:22 - God has MERCY on those who doubt.

OPTION 3 - John absolutely knows Jesus is the Messiah, but he’s in prison…and sends a bold message to Jesus by way of the disciples asking if Jesus will get a

move on and finish the rest of the list of the “deeds of the Christ.”

■ Essentially, he wants to know if Jesus will finish the list (Isaiah 35) and

deliver them from Rome.

■ Jesus replies quoting the works he’s doing, but he leaves off 2 from the list

in Isaiah (liberating the captives)

Dustin thinks Option 1 or Option 3 are the most likely. ;)

(V6) “blessed are those who are not offended by me”

- Jesus is sending a message back

to John, and points out that God’s plans may be different than John’s expectations.

How to Obey: Being unoffended by Jesus means responding like Peter, saying “Where

else shall we go? You are the one with words of life.”

When a person is angry at God, they are convinced He is real, but are offended that He isn’t doing what they want/expect.

It’s not uncommon for Satan to test us to find the “price” we are willing to sell out

God for… (often when we ask God for something and He doesn’t come through

the way we expect). God allows this testing.

We fall into the mental trap of: “If God is good, why would He allow or not do X?”

Remember, God is not the author of evil.

If you’re offended God is taking too long to do something, you’re in a similar place

to John the Baptist (Option 3).

Response/Invitation: If you’re doubting or feeling offended at God, don’t let that offense drive you away from community or from God.