Read Matthew 11:1–6
Questions from the Scripture text: What had Jesus finished (Matthew 11:1)? What did Jesus go to do? Where was John in Matthew 11:2? What did he hear about? Whom did he send to Whom? To ask what (Matthew 11:3)? What does Jesus tell them to do (Matthew 11:4)? What, specifically, did they see (Matthew 11:5)? What did they hear? What challenge does Christ make in Matthew 11:6?
How can faith in Christ be strengthened in hard circumstances? Matthew 11:1–6 looks forward to the morning sermon in public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Christ strengthens us in hard circumstances through the preaching of His Word.
Preaching as Christ’s mission. The Lord Jesus’s instruction to the disciples is called here His “commanding” them (more literally “ordaining” or “appointing”). He had sent them to preach (Matthew 11:7), but He too goes to teach and to preach in their cities. Just as the Lord Jesus came to obtain salvation for all who are His, so He went preaching that salvation throughout His earthly ministry.
Preaching as Christ’s mark. John, who had identified Christ in Matthew 3:11–14, is now in prison. As occurs with many believers, the difficulty of his circumstance pressures his faith. He has a difficult time squaring his present circumstances with Jesus being the King, the kingdom having come, and the works of the King being done (Matthew 11:2).
So, John sends two disciples with the question, “Are You the Coming One?” He has no doubt that the Christ is coming. He just wonders if this can really be it? When providence lays a believer low, he may often wonder the same. But Christ is the One, and He answers first from Isaiah 35 and then from Isaiah 61. Jesus does the sign works of Isaiah 35:5–6, healing the blind, deaf, and lame (Matthew 11:5a–c).
But, even more than that, Jesus does the great work of the Messiah from Isaiah 61:1—preaching the gospel to the poor (Matthew 11:5d). The Christ is “He Who speaks in righteousness, mighty to save” (cf. Isaiah 63:1). Note that Jesus tells them not only to tell John what they see, but first and foremost what they hear (Matthew 11:4).
Preaching as Christ’s method. Jesus concludes His answer with Matthew 11:6, “Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” Jesus does not at first appear in the earthly power and seat all of His servants on thrones. His kingdom grows by preaching and even by the sufferings and deaths of His servants. We endure many trials. We are thought of by many as lowly and despicable.
Shall we therefore stumble? Give up hope in Christ or shrink from service to Him? We mustn’t! So, what does Christ send to John most of all? His Word. He sends him a message. He preaches to him a blessing that He pronounces on those who do not stumble in their faith. Where providence has discouraged His cousin, His servant, His prophet, His subject, Christ sends preaching. And He sends it to you, too, dear reader. His same Spirit Who caused Matthew to be written carries His ordained preachers as they announce to you the blessings of the King upon those who persevere in faith in Him.
In what way do your choices and habits show a value upon preaching that Christ Himself has placed upon it? How has Jesus shown Himself to you that He is indeed the Christ through the preaching of the gospel to you? When have you felt like giving up in the Christian life? What part has Christ’s preaching promised blessing to you had in encouraging you?
Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for giving to us Your Son as the One Who saves us and preaches His salvation to us. Grant that, when our circumstances are difficult, we might be strengthened in Christ by His preaching His Word to us in the power of His Spirit, we ask in His Name, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP119W “Lord, Let My Cry Before You Come” or TPH271 “Blessed Jesus, At Your Word”
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