God Thoughts:
Okay boom, on this journey I am in the process of defining what this ministry space will look like. I am a notorious note taker and have several hundred notes in my phone as we speak/read. One of my most treasured notes is solely focused on what I call God Thoughts. The main header for it is ‘Circles’ – I believe God works in circles, starting (as the author) and finishing (as the closer) of all the events happening in, around and through our lives.
That said, my first God Thought I wanted to share with you all is a sermonette I prepared last summer. It was prepared during a preaching training class amongst other speakers and has never seen the light of day, until now. This is my full manuscript, I hope you find something in it.
A Shift in Sight
Today, we’re going to be in Matthew 11:1-10.
And it reads:
Jesus and John the Baptist
1 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee. 2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” 4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me. 7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:
“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.Lord God I pray you open our eyes to receive your word today. Show us something new. Amen!
I’d like to explore this idea: Only Christ Can Shift Our Sight.
In the passage we just read, we see Jesus teaching and preaching. John, having heard from prison all that Jesus is doing, he sends his word by his own disciples to ask Jesus if he is the one to come or if they should expect someone else. This is rather odd, even baffling to me for several reasons.
- John and Jesus were relatives (Mary and her relative Elizabeth – John’s mother Luke 1:36)
- ohn had baptized Jesus. He was there when Jesus immediately came up from the water and “behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold a voice from heaven said, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” Matt 3:16-17
- John the Baptist: I am not the Christ. John knew his position as a predecessor, as a preparer for Jesus.
- John preached of a Savior who was “mightier than I.. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. v12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire” (Matt 3:11-12)
Now, remembering all these facts about John, how could he forget who Jesus was?
- John’s situation skewed his perception of his Savior.
And like him, we fall victim to the very same thing.
Starting at Verse 2, it says: When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
In the New American Standard Bible it says: John asked “Are you the Expected one?” With this question we see John trying to manage his own expectations. Why? Because John was familiar with being free in a wild space, not captive in the locked place.
And let’s face it, before March who of us was? WE ARE JUST LIKE JOHN. Oftentimes we quote scriptures about abundant life and God doing exceedingly more but what about when our situations don’t reflect that? What about when our situations look exceedingly less? When a viral pandemic strikes and systematic racism is at its highest? When the daily freedoms we have been afforded are heavily restricted? When we are confined to homes? When we go from wild and free to caged and alone?
Because the Jesus, the Savior, that John was expecting? Was one who was mighty. As he preached “Mightier than he”. Mightier than John, the one who lived in the wild. Who wore camel hair garments and leather belts. Mightier than the one with serious food disciplines of locusts and wild honey. Is that considered vegan? John was strong. And the savior he preached about, the one he expected, was coming with a winnowing fork aka a pitchfork in hand, to clear the threshing floor and burn the chaff. The Jesus John expected was going to weed out the saints from the aints, and discard the worthless.
And the gall of Jesus to not be doing those things! John is at a crossroad, having a crisis of faith. Because the savior he expected does not match his situation.
- John is imprisoned for calling out King Herod for taking his brothers wife as his mistress
- John is separated from his followers/disciples, his family and his ministry creating doubts
- He is in an unfamiliar setting NOT experiencing the freedom he expected
So it must be asked: How do we shift our sight when our situations remain the same?
2. Our Perception must change from Place to Person. We Go to Jesus. JESUS DID NOT COME FOR PLACES BUT PEOPLE.
Verse 4 says Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
Jesus told his disciples to GO AND TELL. One version says GO AND REPORT that is to relay the miracles they have seen. GO and REPORT the experiences you have witnessed to John. Go and SHARE YOUR TESTIMONY. Jesus told them to REMIND HIM of who He really is. Go and REMIND John that I Jesus am doing EXACTLY as the prophets said in Isaiah. In Jesus’ reply, he repeated scripture that John would’ve been familiar with but forgot.
John needed an encounter with Jesus to shift his sight. He needed to become reacquainted with Jesus the healer, Jesus the listener, Jesus the Savior. John wanted Jesus to come and burn it all. And he will, on his second return, but first we need a Christ that sacrifices his life to set us right before God because we can not do that on our own. Jesus came to be burned for all to give everlasting freedom of spirit to all who believe. John needed renewed SIGHT of Who Jesus is and what He was coming to do. And I believe He got it.
Which leads me to my final point:
3. A Shift in Sight Sets Puts Everything into Perspective
I believe John was convinced of who Jesus was. BECAUSE JOHN DIDN’T ASK AGAIN. He clearly had access to visitors. He only sent them out once. Upon hearing their report, he did not send them out again. In fact, John didn’t get out of jail. John would later die off of a cruel request. His head would serve as the centerpiece of a party. But his perception of the place he was in was different. He didn’t ask for more clarity. I believe John heard the word of the Lord and believed.
And what’s even crazier?! Jesus corrected the sight of all those in the crowd!! From Verse 7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:
“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.
Once Jesus sets HIS sights on you, He will make clear your purpose even in your absence.
See, a shift in sight will change your prison cell to a prayer closet.
A shift in sight will make a pandemic a period of preparation.
A shift in sight will make your situation smaller than your Savior.
Oh but when Jesus has His sights set on you, He’ll find you.
When Jesus sets his sights on you, the dark becomes a platform for the light.
When Jesus sets his sights on you, even your absence becomes the access point to Him for others!
Maybe you’re here reading this today and never heard of a God that comes close. Maybe you’re here, and you’re overwhelmed by your situation or the lack of one. But God comes close. Jesus doesn’t come for places but for people. Jesus has set his sight on you. Jesus listens and cares. He sends and He saves. Maybe you’ve met Jesus before but you’ve lost sight of him. I’m here to remind you that Jesus came not for what you’re going through but for you!
See God has and is meeting me in my hard places. And instead of removing me from them He is staying and seeing me through them. Come close to Jesus, be reminded of who he is apart from you and your situation. He promises to never leave you or forsake you. We forget, but God does not. He is not a man that he should lie. Invite God into your life. If John needed a God that was bigger than his ideals then so do we. As John was reminded, the point of Jesus coming was because He had his sight set us on us.
God I pray for the person who like myself has lost sight of who they are or even who’s they are. I pray that you would come close and remind them that You have sent your Holy Spirit to empower, encourage, and sustain them. I pray that they are reminded that you have paid the ultimate price on their behalf. I pray that you would shift perspectives, redirect purpose, and be glorified in peoples lives as they live out what they have been called to. I pray that whoever needed to read this was able to hear your voice as clearly as they see these words. Jesus I know that you hear us when we pray. Shift our sight to see you in the midst of situations. Help us to trust that you are enough. In Jesus name, amen.
