Holy Trinity Church, Westward Ho!

Reflections

Reflection from Rev Hilary Kemp

Matthew 11.2-19

2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’

4 Jesus replied, ‘Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[a] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.’

7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:

‘“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.”[b]

11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence,[c] and violent people have been raiding it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15 Whoever has ears, let them hear.

16 ‘To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the market-places and calling out to others:

17 ‘“We played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not mourn.”

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, “He has a demon.” 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, “Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.’ (NIV)

Reflection

This passage has such a down-to-earth, human energy to it. John the Baptist, the fiery desert preacher who once seemed so certain, is now sitting in prison, hearing rumours about what Jesus is doing. So, he sends his disciples to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” Even John, the one who baptised Jesus and saw the heavens open, reaches a point where he’s basically thinking, “Is this real?” It’s a deeply relatable kind of doubt, the sort that appears not because we have no faith, but because life gets hard and our expectations collide with reality.

John expected the Messiah to arrive with fire and judgment. Instead, Jesus is healing, eating with sinners, and speaking about mercy. It doesn’t match the picture John had carried in his mind. But Jesus doesn’t scold him. Instead, he says: look at what’s happening. The blind see. The lame walk. The poor receive good news. In other words: “Pay attention. The kingdom might not look like what you expected, but it’s here.” Jesus meets John’s doubt with evidence and compassion - truth wrapped in tenderness.

The section where Jesus compares the generation to children whining that no one will play their game is almost humorous. He’s essentially saying, “You weren’t happy with John because he was too strict, and you’re not happy with me because I’m too relaxed. You’re determined to be dissatisfied.” It’s the same dynamic we still see: people ask God to speak clearly, then complain when God shows up in ways they didn’t anticipate.

What strikes me is this theme of mismatched expectations - how God often arrives quietly, kindly, almost sideways compared to how we imagine. John expected a Messiah swinging an axe, and instead he got a healer. The crowds wanted someone who fitted neatly into their categories, but Jesus kept challenging the boxes they created for him.

I think we do the same. We want God to act, but in our preferred style: with certainty, speed, and clarity, preferably on our timetable. When God works slowly or subtly - or through people and situations we don’t expect - we can find ourselves echoing John’s question: “Are you really the one?”

Jesus’ response invites us to look again, to pay attention to what God is already doing. In the TCMC, we try to ask at the start of PCC and Ministry Team meetings: “Where do we see God at work?” The signs may not be loud, but they’re real - small kindnesses, healing conversations, unexpected peace, new hope stirring. These aren’t fireworks, but they’re resurrection traces. Learning to recognize God’s work even when it doesn’t match our expectations gets easier the more we try to do it.

And another challenge: how do we respond when God’s messengers make us uncomfortable? Some resist the “John” types—direct, disciplined, calling us to repentance. Others resist the “Jesus” types—gentle, joyful, eating with the wrong people. If we reject both, we risk missing God’s voice altogether.

Maybe the invitation of this passage is humility - letting God be God, even when God surprises us. Perhaps the challenge is openness - to doubt without giving up, to listen without selectively filtering, to look for the kingdom not only in the dramatic but also in the quiet corners of our lives as we learn to see and trust God as God truly is.

Let us pray the Collect for morning prayer:

Stir up, O Lord, the wills of your faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may by you be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.