The Credentials of Messiah
J.A. Macdonald Matthew 11:1-6 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples… The precepts of the charge which Jesus had given to his disciples are here called his commands. Christ's commissions are commands (cf. Psalm 105:8; 1 Corinthians 9:16). He "made an end of commanding." The instructions of Christ are complete. Then "he departed to teach," more privately, "and preach," publicly, "in their cities." His ministry leaves men without excuse. "Now when John had heard in prison," etc. We have here - I. THE INQUIRY OF JOHN. 1. As to its occasion. (1) Jesus wrought the works of the Christ. Miracles were expected of Messiah (see John 7:31). (2) He wrought them in the cities of Galilee. The cities of Galilee were the cities of the disciples (cf. ver. 20, etc.; Acts 2:7). Jesus took care of their cities while they visited others - perhaps the cities of Judaea. He does not allow the interests of those who do his work to suffer. The remotest connection with Christ is attended with blessing. Even the ungodly enjoy civilizing influences where the religion of Jesus is in the air. (3) The fame of the Messianic works reached John in his prison. It was carried to him there by his own disciples (see Luke 7:18). So John saw with gladness the fulfilment of his own words, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30). He was truly "the friend of the Bridegroom." 2. As to the matter. (1) It had respect to the Coming One. This was one of the titles of Messiah (see Psalm 118:26; Matthew 21:9; Matthew 23:39). (2) It concerned his identity. Jesus met the general expectation as to his lineage. He was "of the house and lineage of David" (cf. Psalm 132:11; Jeremiah 23:5; Luke 2:4; John 7:42). As to the place of his manifestation. His birth was at Bethlehem (see Micah 5:2). His ministry chiefly in Galilee (see Isaiah 9:1, 2). As to the time. It was approaching the completion of Daniel's seventy weeks, viz. of years (Daniel 9:24, etc.). Moreover, Jesus did the works of the Christ, as we have seen. (3) Yet the inquiry is raised, "Do we look for another?" Many prophecies describe the coming of Messiah in glory; but Jesus came in humiliation. For this reason, overlooking the fact that many likewise describe his coming in humiliation, Jesus was rejected by the Jews, and they still indeed "look for another." (4) The imprisoned John, who was yet to be beheaded, was the fitting forerunner of the Christ in his advent in suffering and death (see ch. 17:12). Elijah, in full form, who cannot be imprisoned, will herald the second advent of Jesus in power. 3. As to the reason. (1) Was it that John doubted? His prophetic impulses, taken together with his repeated testimonies, forbid this supposition (cf. John 1:6-8, 33-36; John 3:26; John 5:32, 33). The confidence of John was not shaken by his sufferings. He was not "a reed shaken by the wind" (ver. 7). John knew that the works, of which he had heard in the prison, were "the works of the Christ. (2) It was rather that the disciples of John questioned. Like the majority of their countrymen, they might have stumbled at the meanness of the birth of Jesus and the humility of his station (see ver. 6). They might also have questioned as to why, if Jesus were the Christ, he did not deliver their master from prison. Doubters may ever find occasions. (3) But why did John send his doubting disciples to Jesus? He judged that to be the true way to fix their wavering minds. All doubters should take the hint. Instead of conversing with Voltaire, let them converse with Jesus. Let them honestly study his Word. By earnest prayer let them seek the light of his Spirit upon it. II. THE ANSWER OF JESUS. 1. It was indirect, yet decisive. (1) It differed in form from his express answers upon other occasions. To the woman of Samaria he said, I that speak unto thee am he." To the man who had been born blind he said, "Thou hast both seen him, and he it is that speaketh with thee." To the high priest, when adjured, he said, "I am [the Christ, the Son of the Blessed]: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming with the clouds of heaven" (ch. 26:63, 64:; Mark 14:61, 62; John 4:26; John 9:37). (2) The form of the answer on the present occasion was suited to the temper of the questioners. It was an appeal to evidence. Jesus encourages the use of reason in religion. He recognizes the province of private judgment. 2. It was an appeal to testimony. (1) "Go and tell John the things which ye do hear." They were now in the region in which "most of his mighty works were done" (ver. 20). They had the best opportunity for examining witnesses. (2) They could take evidence respecting the raising of the daughter of Jairus; and they had the report of the raising of the son of the widow of Nain (see Matthew 9:25, 26; Luke 7:17, 18, etc.). The rabbins held that "in the land where the dead should arise, the kingdom of the Messiah should commence." 3. It was also an appeal to sense. (1) "Go and tell John the things which ye do see (cf. Isaiah 35:5, 6; Isaiah 42:7). For Jesus doubtless wrought miracles before them. (2) Certainly they heard the gospel preached to the poor. This was a new thing. The scribes, like the heathen philosophers, courted the rich, and treated the poor and ignorant with contempt (John 7:49). To preach the gospel to the lowly was a Messianic mark (cf. Isaiah 61:1 with Luke 4:18; also Zephaniah 3:12; Zechariah 11:11). The Son of David was to be the poor man's King (see Psalm 72:2, 4, 12, 13). 4. The Messianic miracles were parabolic works. (1) The blind receiving sight was not only a proof that Jesus was the Christ, but also a specimen of the power which Messiah claimed to enlighten the prejudiced and error-blinded mind. In both senses, the opening of the eyes of the blind is God's prerogative (see Psalm clxii. 8). (2) He that made the lame to walk can give steadiness and consistency to the limping and irregular life. (3) The cleansing of the leper set forth the power of Christ to purify the soul from the corruption of sin. (4) Making the deaf to hear, he evinced his power to reduce to obedience the most obstinate. (5) In raising the dead, he proved himself the source of spiritual life also to the dead in trespasses and sins." 5. It was an appeal to experience. (1) To be offended in Christ, after appealing to us with such convincing evidence, would be a great unhappiness. How melancholy has been the history of the unbelieving Jew! That many should be offended is an actual mark of Messiah (see Isaiah 52:14). (2) Happy is he who is not offended with the lowliness of Jesus. Whether in his Person or in his disciples. To rise above such offences is to many a difficult lesson. (3) Those who drink into the spirit of the humiliation and sufferings of Jesus will also share in his future glory. - J.A.M. Parallel Verses KJV: And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities. WEB: It happened that when Jesus had finished directing his twelve disciples, he departed from there to teach and preach in their cities.