John in Prison

1. John heard in prison the works of Christ
   1. This made the prison house into a palace
   2. So it does for us: we must hear the works of Christ (the Gospel)
2. Art thou he?
   1. This is a prudent question, which must always be asked
   2. So must we ask it: inquire always, search the Scriptures: is he the One?
3. Blessed is he who does not take offense
   1. Though he came in such humility
   2. Though he had a peasant’s education in the despised town of Nazareth
   3. Though he was poor (had no place to lay his head)
   4. Though his followers were likewise poor and simple
   5. Though great men despised and condemned him
   6. Though his teaching was strict and uncompromising
   7. Though his ways are contrary and contradictory to flesh and blood
   8. Though he promises that those who profess his name will suffer
   9. Though many fall away because of these things

                                i.Like the seed that fell on the rock and the thorns
                                ii.Like the nine lepers who did not return
                                iii.Like many who heard his hard sayings went back, and walked no more with him
Will ye also go away? 

1. Consider:
   1. The blind receive their sight (the LORD openeth the eyes of the blind)
   2. The lame walk (an angel of the LORD was said to bring this healing at the pool of Bethesda)
   3. The lepers are cleansed (Naaman, the Syrian commander, was cleansed when Elisha told him to wash seven times in the Jordan, and he came away healed, and believing  that there was no God in all the earth, but in Israel)
   4. The deaf hear (the hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them, Proverbs 20)
   5. The dead are raised up (as through Elijah and Elisha, more distant forerunners than John: who can raise the dead but God?)
   6. The poor have the Gospel preached to them (as Hannah said, he raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill)
2. So Come, ye poor, ye weak, ye humble, ye imprisoned: hear from your prison houses
   1. Where your prayers’ answers are interminably delayed
   2. Where your sorrows mount and your joys fly away
   3. Where your anguish rises and your comforts fail
   4. Come, hear the works of Christ, and ask of him, as John did: and let your prison be turned to a palace when you hear the unassailable answer: Yes, yes, this is he: who not only suffered himself, but suffered for you; who not only raises the dead but was himself raised from the dead; who shows you anew, who feeds you, who brings you life and salvation. Come, hear, and repeat with gusto the unassailable answer: Amen, amen: this is most certainly true.  Sermon for Advent III