“Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” 

What prompted John the Baptist to ask this question of Jesus? Maybe it was because he was in prison. Maybe it was because Jesus seemed to be helping everyone else except him. Or did John get it all wrong? Was Jesus who John thought He was?

Keep in mind the things that John might have had in mind when he proposed this question. He was the faithful forerunner of The Messiah. He was the greatest prophet under the Old Covenant. He was the greatest man born among women. He was even related to Jesus! But despite all of this, it seems that Jesus wasn’t doing anything for John.

But Jesus does not always do what we think He should do. Faith has less to do with what He can do for us and more to do with Who He really is—whether or not He does what we want Him to do. 

Tough questions— like the one John asked and the ones we ask—can have tougher answers. But this is what it’s like at times as we’re learning to let His perfect love drive out fear. It’s not always pleasant—it’s terrifying and wonderful, all at the same time as we continue to comprehend what sovereign grace looks like and who God is: “I AM who I AM.”

“Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” This is the tough question that John the Baptist asked Jesus. But he didn’t ask Jesus directly because he was in prison. He sent his disciples to ask Jesus, Who didn’t even give an answer right away. 

Have you ever endured so much pain and uncertainty that you desperately attempt to muster up enough strength and faith to move the hand of God? In those times, does it seem like the Lord is silent towards you but responding to everyone else? It’s enough to question whether God is actually God…or if it’s time to look for another.

Watch our study in Matthew 11:1-6 and Luke 7:11-23 as we consider the tougher answer Jesus gives to John's tough question.

​Jesus sees what happens to you. In His omniscience and for His purposes, He doesn’t always shield us from the awful, painful, or unjust things that happen to us. Jesus Himself was falsely accused of being possessed by Beelzebub. And if Jesus was falsely accused, then we can prepare ourselves to be falsely accused as well (Matthew 10:25).

So what should we do? We can take care of our character and let God take care of our reputation. We cannot manage everyone’s perception of us—that would take all of our time and energy (and we’d end up failing and falling right into the trap of the enemy).

Although God may not immediately rescue you or remove you from the difficulty, you can entrust yourself entirely to the One who judges justly (1 Peter 2:23), freeing yourself to give yourself wholly to Him and to His will for your life.

Resist the urge to manage your own reputation. Refuse to fear those who hurl false accusations and insults at you. Refrain from getting into the ring or into the mud to retaliate. Be steadfastly committed to sharing God’s life-giving, life-changing word. Beating the darkness never works. Give yourself to shining the light. 

​In Matthew 10, we read of Jesus sending the twelve Apostles on their first mission trip and giving them several Christian principles to put into practice. In those principles, we learn that what Jesus was sending them to do had no guarantee of total success. There was a chance that people would treat them poorly.

But what often draws us into a deeper and more reliant relationship with Jesus is the pain that comes when people treat us poorly. Not everyone will listen when you share the love of Jesus with them. As Jesus experienced, some may betray and even persecute you—including the very people that you laid down your life to serve. 

Watch our study from this past Sunday as we considered Matthew 10:27-42 and learned even more Christian principles on mission.

​In Matthew 10, Jesus gives the 12 Apostles specific principles as He sends them to specific people in specific places at a specific time to do the good work of the Good Shepherd. He reminds them to trust that where God guides, God will provide. This may not necessarily be financial. God will provide whatever will draw us into a deeper relationship and dependence upon Him as He guides us.

We hope that when we provide others with the Good News of Jesus, it will be desired by all. But Jesus makes it clear that not everybody will receive from us or be worthy of our trust. We are commanded to love and forgive all, but not to entrust ourselves to a person who proves untrustworthy.

Sound difficult? It is the beautiful, worthy, and painful difficulty called ministry. It isn’t a stroll in the park, but an adventure of faith. Learning to hear Him. Learning to obey Him. Learning to trust that He will provide for you wherever He guides you.

What often draws you into a deeper and more reliant relationship with Him is the pain that comes when people treat you poorly, which will happen when you serve others. When you follow the call of Jesus, some will refuse to receive from you and may even betray and persecute you—including the very people that you laid down your life to serve. Some people did this to Jesus. He tells us that we will receive the same treatment. But like Jesus, we too can serve with joy—despite the circumstances.

​After calling the 12 disciples who were called to be Apostles, Jesus sent them on their first mission. And in the remainder of Matthew 10, we read of the way that Jesus prepared them for this special task. 

He gives them a series of principles to put into practice. It’s a somewhat rapid-fire list of important truths to consider as they encounter much of ministry for the very first time.

This past Sunday, we studied Matthew 10:5-26 and considered the Christian principles that Jesus calls His Apostles to put into practice.

​Judas and Peter are often paired together because their sin was similar. Judas looked into the eyes of Jesus and clung to his hypocrisy. He flirted with remorse until his sin ultimately consumed him. Peter locked eyes with Jesus after denying Him a third time. He abandoned Jesus and wept bitterly over his sin, but ultimately found genuine repentance and was restored by his Savior. 

Worldly sorrow leads to despair, but godly sorrow leads to repentance and life in the Lord (2 Corinthians 7:10). Judas displayed a convincing front, but war was in his heart. If he confessed and repented from his sin, Jesus would have rescued him. Instead, his hypocrisy and treachery eventually led to Judas being consumed by his sin. 

Sin can have eternal consequences. But Jesus loves you and sees through you. He allows you to let go of sin and receive His forgiveness and righteousness. But there is a line that you can cross where there will no longer be any opportunity to do this. That's why the Bible says that today is the day of salvation. Jesus knows what's going on in your heart while He's holding out His wounded hand to you. There's nothing that you could do or think of or have done or will do that will repel Him or repulse Him from you. Be honest with Jesus, let go of your sin, and come to Him.