Sermon for the 3rd Sunday of Advent. The Scripture readings are Isaiah 40:1-8; 1 Corinthians 4:1-5; and Matthew 11:2-11.

John longed for reassurance, “Are you the Coming One, or shall we look for another?” The question is on the edge of being rude. Basically, John is complaining that Jesus is taking too long and isn’t being the Messiah that John imagined He would be. We could almost translate John’s words, “If You’re the Coming One, hurry up and get going, or we’re going to look for another.”

Jesus is patient with His answer. He doesn’t say, “Yes, I am the Coming One. Just give Me a minute.” Instead, Jesus tells John how He is coming. “The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by Me.”

Jesus knows what He is doing. He will work all things together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Ro. 8:28). Christ comforts John with the only comfort there is for those who wait either patiently or impatiently. And that comfort comes solely from the Word of God.

In this life, we often have to face tribulation, sickness, instability, and uncertainty. We are imprisoned in a world where the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking to devour us (1 Pet. 5:8). We pray that God would remove the trials we face, but there are times when the only answer we get is, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9).

Rejoice and remember what God has promised, “the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Ro. 8:18). As painful as your sufferings are, they are temporary. Have patience. Your Savior knows what He is doing. And as you wait for Him, arm yourself now with the Word of God and His promises which stands forever.