Sermon for Third Sunday in Advent

Messengers From John the Baptist

Matthew 11:2-11

December 14th, 2025

John the Baptist has a strange question for Jesus. “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” It’s strange because John the Baptist was the forerunner of Christ. He was filled with the Holy Spirit as an unborn child. He leapt in his mother’s womb when Mary, pregnant with Jesus, entered the room and greeted Elizabeth. He baptized Jesus and saw the Holy Spirit descend as a dove and then heard the voice of God the Father say, “You are My beloved Son; with You I am well pleased.” He knew Jesus was the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. John had faith. Of all people to ask such a question, why John the Baptist?

Maybe John was seeking to strengthen the faith of his disciples so he sent them to Jesus so they could see and hear for themselves Jesus work and teaching and be strengthened. I am sure they were worried and doubting as John languished in prison. They needed to hear Jesus, so John sent them to the source of their comfort in the midst of trial and affliction.

Or maybe John was the one depressed and doubting. Despite the fact he was the forerunner of Christ, tough as nails, living off the land among the beasts in the wilderness, feasting on locusts and wild honey, John was still a sinner. There is no one so tough and strong in the flesh that never has doubts or is without fear in the face of the unknown. Especially in the midst suffering, persecution and possible death. Maybe John’s thoughts were on suffering and dying as he grew weaker and weaker in prison.

In times of stress and affliction, with thoughts of death, death feels like the great unknown. It can make you doubt and question everything. With the exception of Jesus, nobody has gone through it and then came back and told us what it’s like. We can only face it with faith in the One who has overcome it. With faith in Christ who reigns victorious over suffering and death, death loses its power.

Death is only a portal to life eternal with Jesus. But it’s still a battle on this side of heaven. Until we step through that door with Jesus, we face a never ending struggle against sin, suffering, and death in this mortal flesh until the resurrection to perfection.

I’ve heard people boldly proclaim they aren’t scared to die. I am sure it’s made with faith knowing Christ has overcome death through His own death on the Cross. But inside we all still have the fear of death. It’s part of our broken, corrupt flesh. It doesn’t fully go away on this side of eternity. It doesn’t mean we don’t have faith, but we are often not as strong as we pretend to be. Especially when it comes to suffering, and sickness, and the thought of death. And it’s alright to admit that we weak and have doubts.

It’s alright to be afraid and not want to suffer and die. It’s a good thing even. Jesus doesn’t want us to suffer and die. That’s why He suffered and died for us. In order that our suffering and death would not have the final say. Jesus suffering, death, and resurrection is the final say. So we go to His Word and listen to what He has done for us.

Ultimately it doesn’t really matter if John was sending the disciples only for their sake or if he was doing it for himself. What was needed was to go to the source of all comfort in the midst of doubt and fear, suffering and death – the Word of God. I believe John the Baptist was scared. He knew he was in a bad place, and it probably wasn’t going to end well. I believe he was doubting everything he thought he knew about Jesus. Everything he had heard and witnessed with his own eyes and ears. He was probably getting impatient with Jesus, like we all do at times. Jesus was not fulfilling John’s expectations.

John was expecting to Jesus to come and take back the kingdom in power and might. Not through humility, suffering and death. He wanted to see the Almighty power of God overcome all the forces of evil right now. Fix things Jesus. I am languishing here in prison; I am getting weak and don’t have much time.

Jesus has a better way.

In the midst of his fear and doubt, and despite his impatience, John doesn’t despair. He seeks a Word from his Savior. Jesus is the light that shines in the darkness of suffering and death. The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. If this was truly God in flesh and blood He would speak the words he needed to hear. His Word would make the fear dissipate. He would be strengthened and able to move forward and endure and persevere through whatever he may have to face, even death itself.

Even the strongest among us, those we think most likely to not fear suffering and death, have moments of great weakness and doubt. We get scared. We get impatient with God. Despite the calm attitude, the smile and look of fearlessness, we all feel it deep inside. Some days we are strong and have a bring it on in the name of Jesus attitude. Other days, not so much. But whether it is a day of weakness or a day of strength, the only source of true eternal comfort and hope is found in God’s Word.

We can’t trust what our eyes see in the world around us. What we see is sin, death, and decay. If we look at our own lives for hope and comfort all we find is evidence of our mortality and how imperfect we are. Our minds and bodies weaken as we age. Sickness creeps in. Worry and doubt over the unknown weigh heavy. We look for comfort and assurance in the world but it’s nowhere to be found. Life is exhausting. Some days it would be easier to just give up. Throw in the towel. Let fear, worry and despair have its way with our minds and our faith.

Jesus has other plans.

All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass.

Surely we are the grass and the flower that withers and fades. But God promises; The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. We are mortal flesh and blood. Our days on this earth are numbered. And yet God created us for a purpose beyond today. We are enduring a light momentary affliction for something eternal. We were not created to suffer and die. We were created to live.

Jesus has other things in mind for us than simply withering and fading away. Jesus says look what I’ve done: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And that was only just the beginning, just a foreshadowing of the eternal healing and new creation to come. Listen to the Words of Jesus. He says: I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

And everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. And who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. That is you and me. God’s Word guarantees it. Jesus promised: If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.

God’s Word promises that our present suffering is not in vain. He sees everything we are going through, and He is using it to strengthen our faith for life eternal. When we are weak, then we are strong. God has plans for us beyond today; beyond tomorrow. God’s Word tells us to, rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. That love poured into our hearts is Jesus. We hold on to Him through faith.

In Jesus we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. Those eternal things are only seen with eyes of faith as they are revealed to us in the Word of God. His Word is the source and only place of hope and comfort beyond what we see today.

We can’t see Jesus, we can’t touch Him, we can’t witness the miracles. But we have Jesus in His fullness in the Word of the God that is read, spoken, and sung. In the waters of Holy Baptism that kill and make alive. In the bread and the wine that is His very body and blood given and shed for forgiveness, life, and salvation. It is true power that transcends this mortal life because it is Jesus. Therefore it is enough to endure us, to persevere us through all things, even death.

In the midst of things you don’t like. Things that cause you fear, doubt and despair. Don’t give up. Look to Jesus. He speaks to you. He shows you what He did on the Cross for you. You are forgiven. You are being renewed into His perfection even today despite what you see in the world and in yourself. You are saved eternally today.

Jesus abides with us and Jesus endures with us through suffering and affliction, imprisonment of body or mind, through heartache and loss, through sickness and death. And He has a place prepared for us that is nothing like this broken world. It’s the place of the greatest eternal Christmas and most joyous never ending Easter. It is beyond what our mortal minds can comprehend. Keep pushing forward to that place in faith. Trusting that Jesus will keep you on your feet and on His path and in His light. And build each other up along the way. Speak to your brother or sister in Christ who is a bit weak today. Bring them a Word from Jesus. Thanks be to Jesus. In Jesus name. Amen.