Miracle Messiah
What are the odds • Sermon • Submitted
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Pieces of a Puzzle
Pieces of a Puzzle
story
As a senor citizen was driving down the freeway, his car phone rang. Answering, he heard his wife’s voice urgently warning him, “Herman, I just heard on the news that there’s some nut going the wrong way on 280. Please be careful!” Herman replied, “It’s not just one car. It’s hundreds of them!”
Recap/Intro
Triumphal entry Vs. Weeping Messiah
Puzzles
All the God does is like putting pieces of a puzzle together
God wanted to make sure it was impossible to miss the Messiah
virgin birth
coming from Egypt
Coming from Nazareth
All of Jesus actions on earth were like different pieces of a Puzzle
One of those Pieces was his miracles
yet even with it so apparent, even those closest can have doubts
Devout Believers Wrestle with Their Faith (Mat. 11:1-3)
Devout Believers Wrestle with Their Faith (Mat. 11:1-3)
An Uncommon Messenger
The predicted forerunner of Jesus (see Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1)
Jesus called him the greatest man to have ever lived (see Matthew 11:11)
A strange man
Lived in the desert
Ate bugs
Wore animal skins
Unique teaching style (see Matthew 3:1-2)
Called people to repentance
This is what got him into trouble
Family history (see Luke 1:5-64)
Father was Zacharias and mother was Elizabeth
Zacharias was a priest in the temple
Both past the age of having children
Zacharias was visited by an angel and told he would have a son
He did not believe the angel
He was made mute until the birth of the child
When Elizabeth was about six months along, her cousin Mary was also visited by an angel and told she would be the mother of the Messiah
Mary visited Elizabeth
When Elizabeth heard her voice, Elizabeth's baby leapt for joy in her womb
When John was born, Zacharias called him the prophet of the Most High
John and Jesus were second cousins
Grew up together
Added to the authenticity of John's testimony about Jesus
John was absolutely convinced Jesus was the Messiah
John was arrested and thrown in prison
Herod Antipas married his brother's wife, Herodias
John called him out on this and was subsequently imprisoned (see Matthew 14:3-4; Mark 4:17-18; Luke 3:19-20)
A Common Misconception
John's doubt was based on an unfulfilled expectation
From prison, he heard about the things Jesus was doing
He was under the impression that when the Messiah came, He would immediately set up His earthly kingdom
John knew the words of the prophets about the Messiah
He would establish an everlasting kingdom (see Daniel 7:27; 9)
John knew the words Jesus had spoken
He came to set the captives free (see Luke 4:18)
John was a captive at that time and wondered why he wasn't free
It is not unusual for spiritual leaders to have times of uncertainty
Moses second-guessed his calling (see Exodus 5:22)
Jeremiah wanted to quit (see Jeremiah 20:9)
Elijah wanted to die (see 1 Kings 19:4)
In the New Testament, all but one mention of the word doubt refers to believers doubting
Jesus rebuked His followers for doubting (Matthew 6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8; Luke 12:28)
Some even doubted Him after His resurrection (see Matthew 28:17)
You almost have to believe before you can doubt
A believer who has served the Lord faithfully can be shaken by an unexpected event
John had been preaching to thousands of people, then suddenly found himself in a pit in the middle of the desert
When in doubt, go to Jesus
John sent people to ask Jesus about his doubt
If you are doubting, the first thing you should do is take it to Jesus
Developing Believers Reason through Their Faith (Mat. 11:4-5)
Developing Believers Reason through Their Faith (Mat. 11:4-5)
The Appeal to Human Experience
Personal discovery
Subjective
Your personal testimony is the most powerful tool you have in your spiritual arsenal
The Appeal to Biblical Prophecy
Objective
Jesus knew John knew prophecy, especially that of Isaiah
People would be healed (see Isaiah 35:5-6)
Gospel would be preached to the poor (see Isaiah 61:1)
Jesus' message was proved by His miracles
People make two mistakes concerning miracles
Naturalize them
Make miracle a common term
Miracles are extraordinary, uncommon events
Cheapens the term
Trivialize them
Explain them away
If there is a God who can act, then acts of God can exist
If Genesis 1:1 is possible, then anything is possible
God is never a prisoner to His natural laws
Let your faith be reasonable faith, not ransacked faith
Determined Believers Remain in Their Faith (Mat. 11:6)
Determined Believers Remain in Their Faith (Mat. 11:6)
Jesus added a P.S. to the end of His message to John
Skandalizó = cause to stumble, cause to sin, cause to become indignant, shock, offend
A gentle rebuke to John the Baptist
Jesus gave him enough evidence that could keep him tethered
Never give up what you know for what you don't know
Let God be God and you be you
Let God be the one seated on the throne and you be the one who bows before it