Steppingstone or Stumbling Block
Matthew 11:1-23 (NLT)
1 When Jesus had finished giving these instructions to his twelve disciples, he went out to teach and preach in towns throughout the region.
2 John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, 3 “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?”
4 Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen— 5 the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” 6 And he added, “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.”
7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. “What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind? 8 Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people with expensive clothes live in palaces. 9 Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet. 10 John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say,
11 “I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is! 12 And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it. 13 For before John came, all the prophets and the law of Moses looked forward to this present time. 14 And if you are willing to accept what I say, he is Elijah, the one the prophets said would come. 15 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!
16 “To what can I compare this generation? It is like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends,
18 For John didn’t spend his time eating and drinking, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.”
20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns where he had done so many of his miracles, because they hadn’t repented of their sins and turned to God. 21 “What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse. 22 I tell you, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you.
23 “And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead. For if the miracles I did for you had been done in wicked Sodom, it would still be here today.
2 John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, 3 “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?”
4 Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen— 5 the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” 6 And he added, “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.”
7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. “What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind? 8 Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people with expensive clothes live in palaces. 9 Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet. 10 John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say,
‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
and he will prepare your way before you.’
11 “I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is! 12 And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it. 13 For before John came, all the prophets and the law of Moses looked forward to this present time. 14 And if you are willing to accept what I say, he is Elijah, the one the prophets said would come. 15 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!
16 “To what can I compare this generation? It is like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends,
17 ‘We played wedding songs,
and you didn’t dance,
so we played funeral songs,
and you didn’t mourn.’
18 For John didn’t spend his time eating and drinking, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.”
20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns where he had done so many of his miracles, because they hadn’t repented of their sins and turned to God. 21 “What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse. 22 I tell you, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you.
23 “And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead. For if the miracles I did for you had been done in wicked Sodom, it would still be here today.
I wondered why John the Baptist sent disciples to Jesus asking: “Are you the expected one or do we look for another?”
I had grown up with the story of my own birth, which took place in St. Joseph’s Hospital, my parents’ 3rd son and the 1st one born in a hospital. I assume John had grown up hearing family stories of his own birth as well, which was far more eventful than mine.
His father’s angelic visitor while in the “Holy of Holies” leaving his father subsequently speechless. Or his mother’s late life “Miracle” baby, even his own reaction at his 1st encounter with Jesus. “He leapt inside his mother’s womb.”
Charles Spurgeon’s preaching shed a new light on this for me. He believed John sent his disciples to Jesus for their own welfare, not due to any doubts that John may have had. Spurgeon conceded that John may have had doubts seeing, as even Elijah became disillusioned at times. He felt John wanted them to meet the man whose sandals he was not worthy to untie.
Pastor Mehaffie said his uncle’s catchphrase was “I do not want to be a stumbling block.” He did not want to hinder anyone’s relationship with Jesus, and John the Baptist knew it was time for his followers to turn and follow Jesus.
John felt Jesus himself would answer in such a way that his disciples would turn from him and become followers of Christ. When Jesus answered with the words the prophet Isaiah spoke concerning the coming Messiah, He was saying “I may not be acting in the way you expected, but I am fulfilling God’s promises.”
Jesus said do not let the fact that I am accused of being friends with tax collectors and sinners stand in the way of the truth of My miracles. Jesus Himself did not want to be a stumbling block to anyone. We need to remember that even today, Jesus may not act the way we expect, but He is always acting on our behalf.
John was removing himself as an obstacle for his followers in their pursuit of God, and I had never thought of it like that.
Prayer: Dear God, empower us with Your Holy Spirit that we become “stepping stones” in place of stumbling blocks. Enlightening your pathway for others we encounter on our journey of faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
I had grown up with the story of my own birth, which took place in St. Joseph’s Hospital, my parents’ 3rd son and the 1st one born in a hospital. I assume John had grown up hearing family stories of his own birth as well, which was far more eventful than mine.
His father’s angelic visitor while in the “Holy of Holies” leaving his father subsequently speechless. Or his mother’s late life “Miracle” baby, even his own reaction at his 1st encounter with Jesus. “He leapt inside his mother’s womb.”
Charles Spurgeon’s preaching shed a new light on this for me. He believed John sent his disciples to Jesus for their own welfare, not due to any doubts that John may have had. Spurgeon conceded that John may have had doubts seeing, as even Elijah became disillusioned at times. He felt John wanted them to meet the man whose sandals he was not worthy to untie.
Pastor Mehaffie said his uncle’s catchphrase was “I do not want to be a stumbling block.” He did not want to hinder anyone’s relationship with Jesus, and John the Baptist knew it was time for his followers to turn and follow Jesus.
John felt Jesus himself would answer in such a way that his disciples would turn from him and become followers of Christ. When Jesus answered with the words the prophet Isaiah spoke concerning the coming Messiah, He was saying “I may not be acting in the way you expected, but I am fulfilling God’s promises.”
Jesus said do not let the fact that I am accused of being friends with tax collectors and sinners stand in the way of the truth of My miracles. Jesus Himself did not want to be a stumbling block to anyone. We need to remember that even today, Jesus may not act the way we expect, but He is always acting on our behalf.
John was removing himself as an obstacle for his followers in their pursuit of God, and I had never thought of it like that.
Prayer: Dear God, empower us with Your Holy Spirit that we become “stepping stones” in place of stumbling blocks. Enlightening your pathway for others we encounter on our journey of faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thomas Harris, Simpson United Methodist Church, Moundsville, WV thomppg@aol.com, Certified Lay Speaker
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