Advent 3 – Gaudete December 13, 2020
Matthew 11:2-10 (11)
Offending Jesus
v.6 [Jesus said], “And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
Dear friends in Christ, we pray that when our King comes in His Second Advent of glory that we would be blessed by His coming and not be offended by Him in the here and now. For those who are offended by Him reject Him as a matter of course—those who reject Him will not receive blessings and glory at His return, but punishment and eternal death.
But come on! I mean, who could possibly be offended by Jesus anyway? I mean, He’s the good guy, right? It doesn’t matter who you are—or even what religion you are—you want Jesus on your side—because Jesus was a nice guy. He helped people, He loved people, He healed people. What could possibly be wrong with that? Even the Dalai Lama is fond of saying how much he likes the Christian’s Jesus—just that we’re not very good at following His example.
But dear friends, this “nice guy” version of Jesus that is so popular among people today—from Buddhists to atheists to many Christians—is not the real Jesus of the Bible. For the Jesus of the Bible is quite offensive in His own right. There is a reason why people so often wanted to kill Him—not because of His good deeds—but because of His profound Word.
You see this Word of Jesus—the Gospel—is offensive—a stumbling block —to Jews and Gentiles alike. For by His Word Jesus proves that He is not just some ordinary-Joe-turned-do-gooder, but rather that He is the One and only Messiah—true God and true man—come to take away our sin. His Word offends because it states in no uncertain terms that you and I are evil and deserving of death and hell. His Word offends because it states that we can do nothing about that situation, either—there is no good deed good enough that we can possibly do to earn God’s favour. But why would we want to anyway? After all, we’re not sinful people—we don’t do anything that bad, do we—not like our neighbour down the street—now there is someone with problems. And it’s offensive to me to hear that I am not a good person—how dare you—how dare...Jesus!
Indeed, it is readily apparent that Jesus never took any of the popular leadership classes and seminars that we might think are imperative for any religious leader. Rather, it seems that just as Jesus’ popularity is finally taking off and people are flocking to Him for healing and food, then He teaches something harsh and they fall away. Don’t believe me? Take a look at John 6. Many thousands follow Him and He heals and feeds them, but then He begins to teach and says things like, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.” Then many of His disciples grumbled at Him saying, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” After this many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him. Why? They were offended by Him.
To alienate His followers even further Jesus rather arrogantly asserts that He is the only way to get to heaven. In John 14 He says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father, except through me.” So, you can’t get in by your good deeds—by your being nice—at least once in a while. What is more—He says your works—your best good deeds—don’t mean a thing—don’t count one bit toward your salvation—though He still insists that you do them—now if that isn’t downright offensive! Indeed, after you have done all these things, you are to say, “We are unworthy servants.” The nerve of some people! Who wants to be treated like that?
And so you see, dear brothers and sisters, just how offensive Christ is when you take His Word seriously. It is scandalous. It is offensive to our sinful selves—it’s just not nice to go around talking about people in that way—especially in our day and age, where “sin” is a bad word that you don’t want to use to describe anyone other than really BAD people—certainly not good, upright Christians like you and me. And so, all too often, we, and those we know and love, are quick to turn away from Jesus and His Word—to ignore it—to reject it—or at the very least—to change it—to something we like better. Take out all the offensive bits—and turn Jesus into that nice, quiet guy of our own making whom we can control and who won’t criticize anything we do. Sadly, this has happened with the publication of various loose "translations" of the Scripture (like the TNIV 2011), which basically remove the offensive teachings in Scripture, like God as Father, homosexuality as sin, and others.
You see our problem don’t you? For if we do take Jesus’ Word seriously we see that those who are offended by Him—those who offend Him with their lack of faith and regard—do not have His blessing—do not enjoy His gifts of forgiveness and life—but rather will suffer death and hell for all eternity. And that we are THOSE people. In our hearts we cringe at much of Jesus’ teachings, thinking to ourselves, “This is a hard saying.”
Even at this time of year as we prepare to celebrate His birth into the world of man—as we rejoice in His incarnation by which He came to save all people from their sin—we focus more on Santa Claus than on the virgin birth of the King of kings. We don’t mind pretending to be Christians, as long as it doesn’t make us look bad in front of our friends—we don’t want to appear too harsh or judgemental. Sometimes we go along with what our friends/family are doing—though we know it to be wrong from God’s Word—simply because it is easier to let things lie and not rock the boat.
Dear friends, in order to be among the blessed ones of Jesus we must not be offended by Him and His Word and works. But how can this be since every part of the world and the devil and our sinful selves screams out at us to reject Him—to depart from Him? How are we to cast off all human cares, arguments, and counsels, which are ineffective? How can we avoid offenses and turn ourselves over to the Word and work of God, putting aside our own thinking, when our own thinking is working against us, when our own self that is completely corrupted by sin, is the very nature of our problem?
Simply said, we can’t. We can’t do any of these things. Yes, as Jesus once said, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” For faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, His Word and work, is not something that we can create from within—it is a gift bestowed from without. Indeed, it is a miracle of the Holy Spirit working through the Word of the Gospel that we are not offended by this teaching, but eagerly embrace it and hold fast to it—it is all His work. You do nothing. He does it all. From washing you clean in your Baptism to feeding you with His own body and blood in the Supper—He proclaims you to be forgiven by His blood and righteousness—and so you are.
Just look at John the baptizer. From prison he sat and watched and heard what the Lord was doing—people are healed—blind see—deaf hear—lepers are cleansed—even the dead are raised. John sat in misery—awaiting his own death, yet he knew and trusted in Jesus. That is why he sent his disciples to Jesus—for he knew that he would diminish, but that Christ would become even greater. He points them to the words of the Word made flesh—to be their source of comfort and hope. As the Word of Christ remains our source of hope today.
The Holy Spirit leads us to not be offended by Christ and His Gospel. Indeed, it is that very thing that blesses us so very greatly. For in His Gospel we find words of healing and love—forgiveness and peace—light and life. Words that grant us hope in the dark times and places of our lives. Words that we cling to in times of trial and suffering—grief and shame—as well as all joy and happiness.
Though at first appearances it may seem as though Christ is very distant from our problems and strife this side of heaven—yet nothing could be farther from the truth. For He comes to you in His blessed Word of the Gospel to bless you—to forgive you—to confer upon you His love and mercy—to remind you of His steadfast connection with you through your baptism. He has blessed you with the gift of salvation in life through water and the Word. He comes to you in bread and wine this day to feed you with His life and love—to pour into you the body and blood that was freely given and shed for you on the cross of Calvary.
Jesus connects with you in ways that the unbelieving world cannot and will not understand. Yet He comes. He comes for you and He comes to you—to bless and restore. To give you deep spiritual sight—to clean out your ears so you may better hear His Gospel promises—to cleanse you from all sin—and bring you out of death and into new and everlasting life. This is the Word and work of Jesus that surpasses all human reason and understanding. This is the way in which He blesses—not for a singular moment in time—but for an eternal lifetime. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Matthew 11:2-10 (11)
Offending Jesus
v.6 [Jesus said], “And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
Dear friends in Christ, we pray that when our King comes in His Second Advent of glory that we would be blessed by His coming and not be offended by Him in the here and now. For those who are offended by Him reject Him as a matter of course—those who reject Him will not receive blessings and glory at His return, but punishment and eternal death.
But come on! I mean, who could possibly be offended by Jesus anyway? I mean, He’s the good guy, right? It doesn’t matter who you are—or even what religion you are—you want Jesus on your side—because Jesus was a nice guy. He helped people, He loved people, He healed people. What could possibly be wrong with that? Even the Dalai Lama is fond of saying how much he likes the Christian’s Jesus—just that we’re not very good at following His example.
But dear friends, this “nice guy” version of Jesus that is so popular among people today—from Buddhists to atheists to many Christians—is not the real Jesus of the Bible. For the Jesus of the Bible is quite offensive in His own right. There is a reason why people so often wanted to kill Him—not because of His good deeds—but because of His profound Word.
You see this Word of Jesus—the Gospel—is offensive—a stumbling block —to Jews and Gentiles alike. For by His Word Jesus proves that He is not just some ordinary-Joe-turned-do-gooder, but rather that He is the One and only Messiah—true God and true man—come to take away our sin. His Word offends because it states in no uncertain terms that you and I are evil and deserving of death and hell. His Word offends because it states that we can do nothing about that situation, either—there is no good deed good enough that we can possibly do to earn God’s favour. But why would we want to anyway? After all, we’re not sinful people—we don’t do anything that bad, do we—not like our neighbour down the street—now there is someone with problems. And it’s offensive to me to hear that I am not a good person—how dare you—how dare...Jesus!
Indeed, it is readily apparent that Jesus never took any of the popular leadership classes and seminars that we might think are imperative for any religious leader. Rather, it seems that just as Jesus’ popularity is finally taking off and people are flocking to Him for healing and food, then He teaches something harsh and they fall away. Don’t believe me? Take a look at John 6. Many thousands follow Him and He heals and feeds them, but then He begins to teach and says things like, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.” Then many of His disciples grumbled at Him saying, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” After this many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him. Why? They were offended by Him.
To alienate His followers even further Jesus rather arrogantly asserts that He is the only way to get to heaven. In John 14 He says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father, except through me.” So, you can’t get in by your good deeds—by your being nice—at least once in a while. What is more—He says your works—your best good deeds—don’t mean a thing—don’t count one bit toward your salvation—though He still insists that you do them—now if that isn’t downright offensive! Indeed, after you have done all these things, you are to say, “We are unworthy servants.” The nerve of some people! Who wants to be treated like that?
And so you see, dear brothers and sisters, just how offensive Christ is when you take His Word seriously. It is scandalous. It is offensive to our sinful selves—it’s just not nice to go around talking about people in that way—especially in our day and age, where “sin” is a bad word that you don’t want to use to describe anyone other than really BAD people—certainly not good, upright Christians like you and me. And so, all too often, we, and those we know and love, are quick to turn away from Jesus and His Word—to ignore it—to reject it—or at the very least—to change it—to something we like better. Take out all the offensive bits—and turn Jesus into that nice, quiet guy of our own making whom we can control and who won’t criticize anything we do. Sadly, this has happened with the publication of various loose "translations" of the Scripture (like the TNIV 2011), which basically remove the offensive teachings in Scripture, like God as Father, homosexuality as sin, and others.
You see our problem don’t you? For if we do take Jesus’ Word seriously we see that those who are offended by Him—those who offend Him with their lack of faith and regard—do not have His blessing—do not enjoy His gifts of forgiveness and life—but rather will suffer death and hell for all eternity. And that we are THOSE people. In our hearts we cringe at much of Jesus’ teachings, thinking to ourselves, “This is a hard saying.”
Even at this time of year as we prepare to celebrate His birth into the world of man—as we rejoice in His incarnation by which He came to save all people from their sin—we focus more on Santa Claus than on the virgin birth of the King of kings. We don’t mind pretending to be Christians, as long as it doesn’t make us look bad in front of our friends—we don’t want to appear too harsh or judgemental. Sometimes we go along with what our friends/family are doing—though we know it to be wrong from God’s Word—simply because it is easier to let things lie and not rock the boat.
Dear friends, in order to be among the blessed ones of Jesus we must not be offended by Him and His Word and works. But how can this be since every part of the world and the devil and our sinful selves screams out at us to reject Him—to depart from Him? How are we to cast off all human cares, arguments, and counsels, which are ineffective? How can we avoid offenses and turn ourselves over to the Word and work of God, putting aside our own thinking, when our own thinking is working against us, when our own self that is completely corrupted by sin, is the very nature of our problem?
Simply said, we can’t. We can’t do any of these things. Yes, as Jesus once said, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” For faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, His Word and work, is not something that we can create from within—it is a gift bestowed from without. Indeed, it is a miracle of the Holy Spirit working through the Word of the Gospel that we are not offended by this teaching, but eagerly embrace it and hold fast to it—it is all His work. You do nothing. He does it all. From washing you clean in your Baptism to feeding you with His own body and blood in the Supper—He proclaims you to be forgiven by His blood and righteousness—and so you are.
Just look at John the baptizer. From prison he sat and watched and heard what the Lord was doing—people are healed—blind see—deaf hear—lepers are cleansed—even the dead are raised. John sat in misery—awaiting his own death, yet he knew and trusted in Jesus. That is why he sent his disciples to Jesus—for he knew that he would diminish, but that Christ would become even greater. He points them to the words of the Word made flesh—to be their source of comfort and hope. As the Word of Christ remains our source of hope today.
The Holy Spirit leads us to not be offended by Christ and His Gospel. Indeed, it is that very thing that blesses us so very greatly. For in His Gospel we find words of healing and love—forgiveness and peace—light and life. Words that grant us hope in the dark times and places of our lives. Words that we cling to in times of trial and suffering—grief and shame—as well as all joy and happiness.
Though at first appearances it may seem as though Christ is very distant from our problems and strife this side of heaven—yet nothing could be farther from the truth. For He comes to you in His blessed Word of the Gospel to bless you—to forgive you—to confer upon you His love and mercy—to remind you of His steadfast connection with you through your baptism. He has blessed you with the gift of salvation in life through water and the Word. He comes to you in bread and wine this day to feed you with His life and love—to pour into you the body and blood that was freely given and shed for you on the cross of Calvary.
Jesus connects with you in ways that the unbelieving world cannot and will not understand. Yet He comes. He comes for you and He comes to you—to bless and restore. To give you deep spiritual sight—to clean out your ears so you may better hear His Gospel promises—to cleanse you from all sin—and bring you out of death and into new and everlasting life. This is the Word and work of Jesus that surpasses all human reason and understanding. This is the way in which He blesses—not for a singular moment in time—but for an eternal lifetime. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.