I. JOHN DOUBTS JESUS (v 1-3)
- It came during a year long trial (in prison, v 2)
- It came from false expectations about Jesus (v 2-3)
- It came from a limited view of what Jesus was doing (v 2)
- But John still knew to take his doubts to Jesus (v 2)
II. JESUS REASSURES JOHN (v 4-6)
- Jesus pointed John to His actions and to Scripture (v 4-5)
- Isaiah 35:4-5; Isaiah 61:1-2
- Jesus pronounces those blessed who trustingly submit to Him (v 6)
III. JESUS REASSURES THE CROWD ABOUT JOHN (v 7-15)
Jesus says we can trust John because…
- John wasn’t blown around by popular opinion (v 7)
- John wasn’t soft, posh, or given to impressing kings or other elites (v 8)
- John was a prophet (v 9)
- John was more than a prophet because the OT foretold his ministry (v 9-10, 13-15)
- Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1 (v 10); Malachi 4:5 (v 13-15)
- John was the greatest man ever born before Jesus (v 11)
- John’s imprisonment is part and parcel of the coming of the kingdom as the kingdom is opposed by violent people (v 12)
- Yet the least in the kingdom is greater than John! (v 11)
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