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By Jesus. In the name of Jesus, Amen. You may be seated. Isn't it bizarre when we as Christians point those who want to know Jesus to look into their own hearts or their own feelings to find him? It's even more peculiar when we as Christians who desire to be close to Christ look for him in every other place than where his word tells us he comes to us with certainty. For we have something better. We have the word of God and the promises of God. We have the word of God made flesh in whom there is no change or deviation delivered to us. We should take our cues from John the Baptist and Jesus. Neither John nor Jesus told the disciples to look for answers in their hearts or their feelings, but rather to what is objective and concrete and outside of themselves. John points their eyes to Jesus. Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Jesus points to what the written word of God declares about John. Among those born of women, there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. If you are willing to believe it, he is Elijah who is to come. John points to the word made flesh. Jesus points to the fulfillment of God's word in the person of John. John's presence marks the Messiah's presence. Jesus' presence explains the reason for John being there. The word of God fulfills what the word of God declares. How about that? But in today's gospel, whether John is in doubt who Jesus is, or whether he's directing his own disciples to Jesus, our Lord's response to John's questions is priceless. While John was in prison, he sent word by his disciples and said to Jesus, Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another? John wants certainty. But Jesus doesn't answer John's question directly. He doesn't tell John, search your heart and see if I'm the one who is to come. He doesn't even tell John's disciples, Yes, I am the one who is to come. There is no other. Instead, Jesus points to the objective word of God and recites what it says. Jesus quotes to John's disciples, what was written by the prophet long ago, who preached the word of God to God's people. Not only the words of Isaiah 35 that you heard this morning, but also Isaiah 61. He sends John's disciples back to John to repeat what is written in the Word of God. John wants certainty. Jesus declares what they see and hear is all found in Scripture. And Jesus answered them, Go and tell John what you see, what you hear, and see. 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. So this is where we must go, dear saints, when we want certainty about Jesus. This is where we must send others who want to know Jesus. What does God's word say? When Luther was defending the Christian belief that the presence of the body and blood of Christ was indeed in the Lord's Supper before another theologian named Zwingli, he became so confident in the word of Christ that he carved the operative verb right there into the tabletop in front of him. So every time Zwingli would attempt to dispute the Lord's presence in the Lord's Supper, Luther would simply point at the word from which Christ declared in Scripture, this is my body. This is the new covenant in my blood. And we too, we too, dear saints, should speak with such conviction. And not waffle at the presumptuous doubented by others. We should follow Christ's example. We should follow John's. We should point everyone to what is certain and true and what the Word of God declares. As the author of Hebrew, the author of Hebrews states, the Word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword. It can and should be wielded at all times against all doubt and uncertainty. But remember, it should point our hearts and minds to Christ Jesus for comfort and certainty. Not ourselves, not our own sinful hearts. If the Lord says to you, he delivers his grace to you at a given place, then believe it. There is no need to conjure up in your imaginations where Christ might be. As Christ has said, blessed is the one not offended by me. In other words, blessed is the one not offended when the word made flesh speaks with authority, when what he says is just as he has spoken it. Only Christ has been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Only those who are in doubt of his word are offended by what he says. As Jesus spoke to the crowd concerning John, he speaks to us. What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in king's houses. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written. Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you. Jesus first sends John's disciples back with John's word, with I'm sorry, with God's word, and then he sends the crowds back to what is written in God's word. Not only was John a prophet, but his prophetic presence summed up the prophetic declaration of the entire Old Testament. His presence, ordained by God, was determinant in the presence of Christ. If there were no John, then no Jesus. But the arrival of Elijah on the scene meant the arrival of the Christ. And what does Christ say? But if you're willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. John's presence meant Christ's presence. There is no other who is to come. But since the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. The kingdom is always present where the king is present. Hear it again. The kingdom is always present where the king is present. And at the time that Jesus spoke these words, the violent would take it by force, believing that they had indeed done what God desired by crucifying Jesus on the cross for him declaring that he is the Son of God. In their violence against the king, they take the kingdom of heaven by force. John declared, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world is present. But those offended by the word of John were even more offended by the word of Jesus. And in their offense to Jesus' word, they commit violence against the kingdom of heaven because they believe they're justified in their actions. So it is the same with us. Watch yourselves, dear Christians, lest you become offended by the Word of Christ. The word will convict you of your sin. It'll lay bare all your shortcomings. It will show you all your inadequacies. It will expose every bit of unbelief in your heart. But this is what you need it to do. Because unless you see that you are sick with the symptoms of the disease of sin, you won't see your need for the physician that cares for both your body and your soul. As Jesus said, those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous but sinners. If you believe you're righteous, you have no need for Jesus. You're saying Jesus only comes for sinners. Like you and me. Likewise, what did you come to church today to see? Something amazing? Something entertaining? What did you come here then to see? A man dressed in hipster clothes who looks like those who hang around coffee shops and spouts minimalist decor? For I tell you today, Jesus is present here. For you, right now, in this place, under the humblest of means, to make foolish the wise and the wise foolish. He comes here for you. For the sake of your body and soul. To forgive you all your sins. For John saw Jesus and believed. But the least in the kingdom of heaven is even greater because they have not seen and yet believed. Dear saints, Jesus comes to you now, in his word preached. He comes to you now in his sacraments given. Blessed is the one who receives Jesus as he gives himself to you in objective and concrete means. So when people come looking for Jesus, instead of pointing them to their hearts, point them to where the word made flesh comes to them in word and spirit and body and blood, the whole Jesus for them. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. So when you need your Savior and the world is crushing you, don't look for him in the air or in the clouds or underneath the tree. Don't look for him in your own heart or your own feelings. Come to where you know, you know that the Lord comes to you with certainty. Because that's what his own word declares to you. That is enough. Rejoice today. God at Sunday. Knowing that you have Jesus. The real Jesus. He is for you. He only comes for sinners. And he will come again in glory to usher an eternal life to all those who belong to him. And blessed are those who are not offended by him. In the name of Jesus. Amen.