Who is Jesus? According to Matthew 11:

Jesus travels and teaches/proclaims his own message, a message that is revealed in miraculous works and testifies to His identity as Messiah.  By being witnesses to the miraculous works, the unrepentant cities are condemned.  Jesus' message is offensive to them.  Nonetheless, His message can be understood by infants. He comes to bring rest to those who are weary.

 In Matthew 11, Jesus offers a profound declaration of His own identity: "All things have been handed over to me by my Father [Lord of heaven and earth]; and no one knows the Son except the  Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him" (Matthew 11:25, 27).

Big Idea: Jesus has authority over all things.  The use of this authority is a testimony to His profound identity.  As a result, we should turn towards Him and trust in His care.

Profound Identity:
  • Jesus was a teacher (Matthew 11:1).
  • He had twelve disciples/students (Matthew 11:1).
  • Jesus taught and proclaimed his own message (Matthew 11:1).
  • Jesus taught and proclaimed his message in several cities (Matthew 11:1).
  • He traveled to teach (Matthew 11:1).
  • He is the Messiah/Christ (Matthew 11:2).
  • News of the work of Jesus reached John in prison (Matthew 11:2).
  • John asked Jesus, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another? (Matthew 11:3).
  • Jesus confirmed that he was the "one who is to come" by pointing to his miraculous works (Matthew 11:3-5).
  • Jesus interacted with John while John was in prisoners through John's disciples (Matthew 11:1, 4).
  • Jesus gave the blind sight - this was a testimony to Jesus' identity as the promised one (Matthew 11:5).
  • Jesus heals the lame so that they can walk - this was also a testimony to Jesus' identity as the promised one (Matthew 11:5).
  • Jesus cleanses the lepers - this was also a testimony to Jesus' identity as the promised one (Matthew 11:5).
  • Jesus heals the deaf so that they hear - this was also a testimony to Jesus' identity as the promised one (Matthew 11:5).
  • Jesus raises the dead to life - this was also a testimony to Jesus' identity as the promised one (Matthew 11:5).
  • Jesus brings good news to the poor - this was also a testimony to Jesus' identity as the promised one (Matthew 11:5).
  • People will take offense to Jesus (Matthew 11:6).
  • Jesus blesses those who are not offended by him (Matthew 11:6).
  • Before the crowds, Jesus recognized John as a prophet (Matthew 11:7-9).
  • Jesus recognized John as the one who fulfilled prophecy by going before him, by doing this Jesus also recognized his own identity (Matthew 11:10).
  • Jesus, born of a woman, recognizes that "among those born of women no one has risen greater than John the Baptist" (Matthew 11:11).  (See question listed below.)
  • Jesus recognized John as the prophet Elijah who was to come (Matthew 11:14).
  • Jesus called himself "Son of Man" (Matthew 11:19).
  • Jesus ate and drank and was accused of being a "glutton and a drunkard" (Matthew 11:19).
  • Jesus recognized that the fact that he hung out with "tax collectors and sinners" was viewed negatively (Matthew 11:19).
  • Jesus saw the fact that he ate, drank, and hung out with tax collectors and sinners as wisdom (Matthew 11:19).
  • Jesus expected that the results of his powerful deeds would be the repentance of the people (Matthew 11:20).
  • Jesus condemns the unrepentant cities in which his miraculous work had been done (Matthew 11:21-23).
  • Jesus claims that if he had done the powerful deeds in the cities of Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom, those cities would have repented (Matthew 11:21-23).
  • Jesus pronounces judgment on several cities - Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum (Matthew 11:21-24).
  • Jesus says that the punishment of some cities will be worse than that of Sodom (Matthew 11:24).
  • Jesus gave thanks to God his Father for revealing things to the infants, rather than to the wise and intelligent (Matthew 11:25).
  • Jesus refers to God as "Father" (Matthew 11:25, 26).
  • Jesus refers to his Father as the "Lord of heaven and earth" (Matthew 11:25).
  • God as "Father" has handed over to Jesus "all things" (Matthew 11:27).
  • Only the Father knows the Son (Matthew 11:27).
  • Only the Son, and anyone to whom the Son gives the revelation, knows the Father (Matthew 11:17).
  • Jesus calls all who are weary and heavy burdened to come to Him (Matthew 11:28).
  • Jesus will give rest to all who are weary and heavy burdened (Matthew 11:18).
  • Jesus is gentle (Matthew 11:29).
  • Jesus is humble in heart (Matthew 11:29).
  • Jesus will give rest to the souls of those who are weary and heavy burdened who come to him (Matthew 11:18-29).
  • Jesus tells the weary to take upon themselves his yoke because it is easy and his burden is light (Matthew 11:28, 30).
 Questions:
  • In Matthew 11:11 does Jesus consider himself to be born of woman?  If so, how does this impact the interpretation of this verse? 
  • What does verses 16-17 have to do with Jesus identity?  What Old Testament scripture do these verses reference? What exactly does this mean? What is Jesus' point?
Prayer:  God who Is, help me to hear and see your miraculous deeds and repent, turning away from the burdens of this world and turning towards You.  Amen. 

This blog entry is one of a series of entries in my quest to go chapter-by-chapter through the New Testament answering the question "Who is Jesus?"

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