Matthew: The Gospel of the Kingdom

Structure of Matthew:
Prologue: The King comes for His people
1. Kingdom Ethics
2. Kingdom Mission
3. Kingdom Mystery
4. Kingdom Discipleship
5. Kingdom Ultimatum
Epilogue: The King dies for His people

TODAY: DOUBT & DISAPPOINTMENT
Disappointment leads to Doubt
Matthew 11:1-15

Disappointed with Jesus:
• Expectations
• Experience

John the Baptizer
• Miraculous Baby of Zechariah and Elizabeth
• Filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb
• Jesus’ Cousin
• Radical Preacher and Prophet
• Forerunner of the Messiah
• Imprisoned by Herod Antipas
• Beheaded at the behest of Herodias

John’s Message to Israel (Matthew 3:1-12)
Repent
Prepare the way of the Lord
Judgment is coming - bear fruit consistent with repentance

John’s Experience
• “He is crazy” (Matthew 11:18)
• Imprisoned by Herod Antipas (Matthew 11:2)
• Beheaded for his faithfulness (Matthew 14:1-12)

Doubts about Jesus:
His ways: Mercy instead of Judgment?
His identity: Are you the One?

“Doubt is not the opposite of faith, nor is it the same as unbelief. Doubt is a state of mind in suspension between faith and unbelief so that it is neither of them wholly and it is each only partly.” -Os Guinness

Psalm 22:1 - My God, my God why have you forsaken me?
Psalm 42:9 - Why have you forgotten me?

Are you struggling with Disappointment or Doubt?
What do you do with your Disappointments?
Where do you go with your Doubts?
Do you want Jesus on your terms?

Jesus responds to doubt with tenderness:
• He does not condemn the doubter. (Matthew 11:4)
• He answers doubts with explanation and example. (Matthew 11:5-6; Luke 7:21-23)
• He honors John. (Matthew 11:7-15)

Jesus has come to bring Mercy and Grace:
Matthew 11:4-5
Luke 4:16-20
Isaiah 61:1-2

John will be alright!
He took his doubts to Jesus
He was reassured by the word of God
He was comforted by his community
His Doubt was replaced by Faith and his Faith became sight

APPLICATION:
Who is Jesus?
Why did He come?
What does that mean for me?