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Advent 3A

Issues

1. John in prison
   1. John was cast into prison by order of Herod Antipas, Mt 14:3, &c., a little after our Lord began his public ministry, Mt 4:12; and after the first passover, Joh 3:24. Adam Clarke Commentary
   2. Had his sufferings depressed his spirit? We think not. He probably sent his disciples, that their faith might be confirmed. Spurgeon's Devotional Commentary
   3. It was in Machaerus east of the Dead Sea which at this time belonged to the rule of Herod Antipas (Jos. Ant. XVIII. v.2). Robertson's Word Pictures
2. John's question
   1. Asked via two disciples
   2. Are you the one?
   3. Or do we look for another?
3. Jesus' answer:  "Show what you see and hear"
   1. Which are a stronger proof of my being the Messiah, than any bare assertion can be. John Wesley Notes
   2. Signs Listed
      1. Blind receive their sight
      2. Lame walk
      3. Lepers are cleansed
      4. Deaf hear
      5. Dead are raised up
      6. Poor have the gospel preached to them
4. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
   1.  Happy is he who can, notwithstanding that poverty and obscurity, see the evidence that I am the Messiah, and follow me. Albert Barnes Commentary
   2. Many were offended because Christ did not satisfy their carnal expectations concerning their long-promised Messiah. Family Bible Notes
5. What did the people go to the wilderness to see?
6. Messenger to prepare the way
7. Prophets and the Law prophesied until John
8. Greater than a prophet
   1. For the prophets only pointed me out afar off; but John was my immediate forerunner.  John Wesley Notes
   2.  John had all the great qualities of the true prophet: "Vigorous moral conviction, integrity, strength of will, fearless zeal for truth and righteousness" (Bruce). And then he was the Forerunner of the Messiah (Mal 3:1).  Robertson's NT Word Pictures
9. None born of a woman who is greater than John
10. The least in the Kingdom is greater than John
11. John is Elijah (Matthew 11:15-16)
    1. And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
       1. Elias is the Greek mode of writing the Hebrew word Elijah. Albert Barnes Commentary
       2. The Prophet Malachi, who predicted the coming of the Baptist in the spirit and power of Elijah, gave the three following distinct characteristics of him. First, That he should be the forerunner and messenger of the Messiah: Behold I send my messenger before me, Mal 3:1. Secondly, That he should appear before the destruction of the second temple: Even the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his temple, ibid. Thirdly, That he should preach repentance to the Jews; and that, some time after, the great and terrible day of the Lord should come, and the Jewish land be smitten with a curse, Mal 4:5,6. Now these three characters agree perfectly with the conduct of the Baptist, and what shortly followed his preaching, and have not been found in any one else; which is a convincing proof that Jesus was the promised Messiah. Adam Clarke Commentary
    2. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Matthew 11:15)
       1. A kind of proverbial expression; requiring the deepest attention to what is spoken. John Wesley Notes
12. Response of the crowd (Luke 7:29-30)
    1. People and publicans justified God, "being baptized with the baptism of John"
    2. Pharisees and lawyers "rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him."
13.  Comparison of "this generation" to "children in the marketplace" (Matthew 11:17-19 & Luke 7:32-34)
    1. John came neither eating nor drinking
    2. Jesus came both eating and drinking
14. Wisdom is justified of all her children
    1.  Those who are wise will approve both the course of John and his Lord.  People's New Testament Commentary