The Gospel Is Too Good Not To Share :: Matthew 11:2-11

Now when John heard in prison about the work of the Christ, having sent word by his disciples, he said to [Jesus], ‘Are you the coming one or should we look for another?’ And when Jesus answered, he said to them, When you have gone, announce to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight and the lame walk; Lepers are being cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are being raised, and the poor are being evangelized. And blessed is the one who is not scandalized by me.’

I want to tell you a story ... a story that never happened.

The mother of four young children was critically injured in a devastating car crash that left her hospitalized for three months. During this time, the children weren’t allowed to visit their mother ... because of COVID protocols and whatnot. The only contact the children had with their mom was by telephone. Finally, the day came when Mom could return home. Her oldest daughter met her at the door with screams of delight. 

Mom, you’re home! Excitedly, she then told her mother, the other children were playing, and she raced off to the backyard. But no one returned. Finally, Dad went to a window and looked out to see all four children busy playing as if they didn’t know Mom was home. The fact is, they didn’t know. Their sister joined them without one word of good news!

Now I said this is a story that never happened ... because you know that anyone who had such good news would proclaim it. Good news is meant to be proclaimed! 

The life of Jesus, his death, his resurrection, his ascension, and his promise to come again is that kind of good news. It was meant to be shared and proclaimed through his Word and Sacraments. It was meant to be shared so that the world would come to hear and to see Jesus and to believe that he is the one always coming. It was meant to be shared so that on account of Jesus, through his means of grace, the blind would receive their sight, the lame would walk, the lepers would be cleansed, the deaf would hear, and the dead would be raised. Blessed also are all who are not scandalized by this Gospel. 

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Brothers in Christ, God loved the world in this way, sending us Jesus ... to be heard, to be seen, and to be proclaimed. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those who brings good news, who publish this peace ... who publish this salvation, who say to Zion, Your God reigns (Isa 52:7)! Blessed are you who aren’t scandalized by proclaiming it. God the Father sent Jesus to open our eyes and our ears to the unparalleled good news and truth that God is with us. The Father sent his son not to condemn the world but that the world might have life in his name. 

This is the message in which the heavenly messengers rejoiced. 

This is the message the shepherds couldn’t keep to themselves. 

This is the message of saints and apostles and pastors were called to proclaim.

Our text from Matthew chapter 11 today speaks of one of the greatest proclaimers of the good news of Christ’s coming to save. As Jesus tells us, John the Baptizer was more than a prophet; he actually evangelized like no one before or after him. He pointed all who would listen to Jesus, boldly declaring, Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. 

By all accounts in the scriptures, John the Baptizer was fearless in his call. He didn’t run away like Jonah, afraid the Gospel might save someone. He didn’t hide on a mountain like Elijah, afraid of the repercussions for preaching a word of repentance. He didn’t lose faith like Moses. ... Instead, he stood in the waters of baptism, waiting for the Lord. He boldly indicted men of their sin even though it would lead to his imprisonment and beheading. And ultimately he pointed men to the Gospel of Jesus. He takes away your sin. He is the one who opens eyes and ears to the Gospel. He is the one who cleanses you of sin. I have seen and have witnessed this truth, John proclaimed (Jn 1:34). 

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Therefore, when we look for the proper message for Advent, we should immediately examine the proclamation of John the Baptizer, the Savior’s forerunner. John faithfully preached Law-Gospel. And he wasn’t ashamed or afraid to do it. He dared to tell Herod that he was an adulterer because he was living with Herodias, his brother’s wife, who had disowned her previous husband to become a queen. He dared to point out how the works-righteousness teaching of the Pharisees was akin to the poison of vipers. He was fearless in his proclamation to a woke mob who wanted his head on a platter for sharing the truth. 

But even in prison he continued his ministry, using that opportunity to convince his own disciples not to follow him but to turn to Jesus. 

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It has often been speculated that John the Baptizer had his doubts. Look, the scholastics say, he’s in prison: He must have been in despair. We all have our doubts, after all, because I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus. 

But I don’t think that’s the case at all. Not with John any way. Listen to Saint Matthew, who tells us what John knew. ... Now John, having heard in prison the works of The Christ, [and] being sent through his disciples, [he] said to [Jesus], ‘Are you the coming one or should we look for another?’ John the Baptizer is not asking Jesus a question because he wanted to know the answer. John is sending his own disciples to hear and see the truth of Jesus themselves that Jesus actually is the son of the Living God. Jesus actually is the coming one. Jesus actually is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Jesus actually is the way. Jesus actually is the truth. The proof is here for all of you to hear and to see. 

John has known this truth all of his life. Remember, he skipped for joy in the womb of Elizabeth at the mere presence of Jesus. And so too can we skip for joy. 

Although we can’t see Christ personally ... at least like John’s disciples did ... to ask Jesus ourselves if he really is the coming one ... we can believe in him ... and even though we cannot see him now ... and we can love him ... and preach him ... proclaiming his Word and administering his Sacraments, which work together to point the world to Jesus the coming one. We can because our Lord has come to us to be heard and seen in Word and sacraments. And this good news should fill us with his glorious and inexpressible joy as we await the outcome of our faith, the salvation of our souls. 

Brothers, Jesus is coming to save you. Jesus is coming to redeem you. Jesus is coming in baptism and the Supper. Jesus is coming to give you rest. Jesus comes with good news in Word and sacrament, delivering to you the forgiveness of sins. His Word and sacraments open the eyes of the blind, enable the lame to walk, give hearing to the deaf, raise the dead, and evangelizes the poor. And blessed are all of you who aren’t offended by the realization that we are the blind, lame, deaf, dead, poor miserable sinners being saved by Jesus. 

This advent of our Lord truly is good news that needs to be proclaimed. 

We have been united with Christ in the death and resurrection of Jesus. We have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer we who live but Christ who lives in us. We have been united with Jesus in his resurrection, and therefore we have a living hope, a real hope, of eternal life. That means when Jesus comes, we have every reason to rejoice. 

SO NOW BROTHERS IN CHRIST, TELL THE WORLD ABOUT JESUS, WHO IS THE GOOD NEWS HE WANTS YOU TO HEAR AND SEE

May God grant that we stand firm in our testimony, boldly directing men to Christ and proclaiming his Word of grace fearlessly. The time is now. Let us believe what John believed: Jesus is the Christ, the Lamb of God, and he has taken away the sin of the world. As you hear and see his Gospel, he gives you life and salvation ... in his name.