A question in the darkness

Matthew 11:2-11 ²While John was in prison, he heard about the things Christ was doing. He sent two of his disciples ³to ask him, “Are you the Coming One or should we wait for someone else?”

⁴Jesus answered them, “Go, report to John what you hear and see: ⁵The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the gospel is preached to the poor. ⁶Blessed is the one who does not take offense at me.”

⁷As these two were leaving, Jesus began to talk to the crowds about John. “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ⁸What did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? No, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. ⁹So what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you! And he is much more than a prophet. ¹⁰This is the one about whom it is written, ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ ¹¹Amen I tell you: Among those born of women there has not appeared anyone greater than John the Baptist. Yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

“The God of love and peace will be with you.” Amen. (2 Corinthians 13:11)

For the sake of a wager, God allowed Satan to have his way with his servant Job. Satan could do anything to him short of killing him. So, he did.

Job’s children were enjoying each other’s company. The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing. The shepherds were herding the sheep. The camels were doing whatever camels do. The servants were taking care of business.

Then quite literally, all hell let loose. Satan directed disaster after disaster to strike Job. Job’s cattle, donkeys and camels were carried off. Fire fell from the sky to burn up the sheep. His servants were murdered by raiding parties. His children were wiped out by a windstorm.

Though it was probably the middle of the day when all this happened, a darkness must have settled onto Job. Though his heart was breaking, Job still had the faith to point to his God. In his deep sorrow he yielded to God’s will and showed gratitude instead of resentment. He uttered some of the most profound words ever spoken by any human being: “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. May the name of the Lord be blessed.” (Job 1:21).

John the Baptist is in prison for having the guts to tell King Herod what no one else would tell him – that it was wrong to steal his brother’s wife. So Herod threw John in prison – the kind of prison you don’t leave from alive. And soon “the voice of one calling in the wilderness” would be silenced as Herod would order John’s head removed from his body.

The prophet of repentance has been jailed for calling the king to repentance. Prophetic preaching is dangerous work. The one who came to bear witness to the light sits in darkness awaiting a certain martyr’s death.

John is in the darkness of a dungeon. He is also in the darkness of doubts and uncertainty – either his own or on behalf of his disciples. Yet, John has the faith to point his disciples to Jesus. He would have gone himself, if he could have. He sends them to the Lord to ask the all-important question, “Are you the Coming One or should we wait for someone else?”

Doubts and fears arise in us as we sit in the hospital room holding our sick child’s hand, or as we sit at the dining room table with all our bills spread out trying to figure which ones to pay first, or as we sit in the lunchroom at work talking with our co-workers about how slow business is and wondering if we will have jobs next week.

When you are stressed, Satan will try to spin your hardships as proof that God is incompetent. Or weak. Or absent. Or that he has given up on you and you are left alone to languish in your struggles.

The big lie that the world preaches and our sinful nature believes is that we should be happy all the time. If God really loves us as Christians, then he should remove all suffering from our lives. We should experience no pain. There should never be a moment’s worry over health or finances or relationships. If God really wants to show how much he cares for us, then he should remove everything that produces pain and provide everything that can produce pleasure.

When we are in the darkness, it is easy to believe the lie. That’s why Christmas is so important for us as Christians. Christmas is more than a one-day party. Christmas is the mass of Christ. It is the worship of Christ. It is the celebration of the birth of God Incarnate – God in human flesh! We see the Light of the world entering our darkness. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:4). When you find yourself sitting in the darkness, remember that you are in good company. Job and John are sitting there with you. God’s servant and Christ’s forerunner. Look to the Light of Christ shining in your current darkness. Know that though the world can take your head, it cannot take your life. Know that though the world can take your riches, it cannot take your inheritance. The world can take everything from you – your property, your family, your freedom – but it cannot take away your faith in Jesus Christ.

John the Baptist asks a question in the darkness of his prison cell: “Are you the Coming One or should we wait for someone else?” Perhaps that’s because John and his disciples expected a different kind of Christ. One who came with the axe of God’s wrath, a winnowing shovel of judgment and a consuming fire. A Christ who was a warrior and revolutionary, One who would come to set God’s people free. One who would come to establish the Kingdom of God upon the earth where lion and lamb could lie together in peace.

We may ask in our prayers, “Are you the Coming One?” Perhaps that’s because we expect a different kind of Savior. We can be like the Jews. We want a Christ who will take away our health problems, create high paying jobs and make everything nice and comfortable for us in his Kingdom.

We can be like King Herod. We want a prophet who will provide a good show, but who had better not offend us by confronting our sins.

We can be like many Christians today who are bored with worshiping God. We want God to do something else, something flashier, more fun or more impressive.

Or we can be like God’s critics who are always harping that there is so much evil and violence in the world. We want a God who will wipe out our enemies and end all persecutions, ridicule and martyrdom.

Or we can be like regular church members who are frustrated that God’s Church always seems to be such a mess. We want a Lord of the Church who will fix the Church on earth because it looks so disorganized and divided, physically meek and financially poor.

John received something unexpected. A baptized Christ willing to stand in solidarity with sinners. A humble Christ willing to eat with tax collectors and prostitutes. A lowly Christ refusing to use his divine power to establish an earthly kingdom. A meek Christ enduring the beatings of a world who did not want him. A crucified Christ who conquered the darkness by hanging in the darkness of Good Friday and who defeated death by being placed in a grave.

“Are you the Coming One or should we wait for someone else?” John’s two disciples dutifully ask the dark question of Jesus. And into their darkness, Jesus shines the light of his divine glory. He demonstrates that the Christ was standing right in front of them. He did many signs – Christ signs – healing the sick, the lame, the demonized. He told them, “Go back and tell John, what you have seen and heard. Tell John about the blind man whose sight is restored, the leper who can return to his family, the lame woman who is dancing, the dead girl who is returned to her parents, and the spiritually poor who are made rich with forgiveness and salvation.”

“And say this to John, too: ‘Blessed is the one who does not take offense at me.’ Make sure John hears that last sentence. Make sure all of you hear it. ‘Blessed is the one who does not take offense at me.’ Blessed is the one who does not stumble over my apparent weakness, my unwillingness to use my power, my perceived silence, my power perfected in weakness, my victory hidden in defeat. Blessed is the one who believes despite what he sees, who receives life in my death and who accepts the Kingdom in my cross.” 

The darkness of the dungeon and the silence of Scriptures forbid us from seeing John’s reaction to the news when the two disciples returned to tell him what they had seen and heard. Did he smile? Did he laugh? Did he shed a tear? Did he dance for joy? Or like Mary at the manger, did he quietly ponder all these things in his heart?

Our Savior’s words and his Christ miracles are meant for you, too. Don’t be fooled. Don’t allow the devil to play with your mind. Don’t fall away from your faith because Jesus doesn’t match your perceptions. What have you seen and heard? We have seen and heard the unexpected! The infant made a child of God through baptism at the font. The faithful shut-in who continues to commune. The sinners who are forgiven. The hurting who are healed. The crushed who have their prayers answered. The children who sing the Christ-Child’s praises. The aged saint now dwelling in Jerusalem the Golden.

Maybe you are confused about Jesus because you are looking in the wrong places and listening to the wrong teachings. What happens when you look intently with the eyes of faith and listen closely with the ears of trust? Beneath Jesus’ weakness is power almighty. Under his bruised heel is the crushed head of the serpent. Under the wounds of his hands, feet and side is the healing of the nations. Under his crown of thorns is the crown of glory. In his blood is the forgiveness of humanity’s sins. In his dark grave is the light of the resurrection.

Can you see it? Can you hear it? Do you believe it?

Though we see the damage he has done, we cannot see Satan and his demons at work. But neither can we see disasters that didn’t happen because of God’s many interventions. When we pray about being broke, God’s answer might be to prevent our furnace from breaking down. Or maybe there’s going to be layoffs at work, but then God turns the economy around. Or perhaps we are complaining about not feeling well, and a visit to the doctor results in them preventing something much more serious from happening.

God may rescue us and bring us into the light. Or he may allow us to be like John and remain in a prison of darkness. Or he may allow us to be like Job in the darkness of sorrow because Satan has taken everything from us. But no matter what, God is in control.

It’s like watching a movie after you’ve read the book. When something bad happens, everyone else gasps at the crisis on the screen. Not you. Why? You’ve read the book. You know how the good guy gets out of the tight spot.

We can view our lives with the same confidence. God has not only read the story of our lives, he wrote it. His perspective is different, and his purpose is clear. Possessions, freedom and even family may be taken away, but God has given us so much more in his Son, the One from whom demons cower, diseases shudder and death fears.

When you struggle in the darkness, go ahead and ask Jesus, “Are you the Coming One?” Jesus doesn’t chastise John or his disciples for their questions. Nor does he criticize you for yours. He is glad to answer. “Yes, I am the One who walked with Adam in the cool of the day. I am the One who spoke to Moses from the burning bush. I am the One who protected the Israelites from the Pharaoh’s forces and the Red Sea’s waters. I am the One who fed Elijah on his long journey. I am the One who is your Passover Lamb, Priest, Prophet, and Servant. I am the One who makes the lame walk, the deaf hear, the blind see and the dead alive. I am the One who shines the light of salvation into this dark valley of the shadow of death.”

“I am the Coming One, so you don’t need to look for another.” Amen.

“May God be gracious to us and bless us. May his face shine on us. Amen. (Psalm 67:1)