Is The Gospel of Jesus Offensive? - Matthew 11:1-6

Jesus and John the Baptist

11 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.

Jesus moves from instructing the disciples to "teaching" and "preaching" in the towns of Galilee near where he grew up.  "According to Bruce, to preach in their cities does not refer to the cities of the disciples, but the cities of Galilee. In this way Jesus gave His commissioned disciples room to do their work." Guzik

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?”

We know from John 1 that John knew Jesus was the Messiah, as twice in verses 29 and 36 he says, "Behold the Lamb of God".  but his question belies he might have misunderstood what the Messiah came to do.  

"John clearly recognized Jesus as the Messiah. His present doubt may be explained because perhaps he himself had misunderstood the ministry of the Messiah. Perhaps he thought that if Jesus were really the Messiah, He would perform works connected with a political deliverance of Israel – or at least the deliverance of John, who was in prison." (Guzik)

Other commentators conclude that though John knew who Jesus was that his disciples were doubting, and so he sent them to discover who Jesus was for themselves.  Regardless, it seems somewhat of a strange request from John given his previous assertions. 

4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 

Though Jesus preached and taught about the kingdom of God, he also verified it by his signs and miracles. Jesus would "tell" them then "show" them. Someone has said, "Words without deeds lack credibility, and deeds without words lack courage!"  

What Jesus is presenting here is evidence. Evidence that demanded a verdict.   

5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 

Another reason why John and his disciples should be able to recognize Jesus as the Messiah is that he fulfilled Old Testament prophecy.  Look at this passage from Isaiah 61, 

"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners," Isaiah 61:1

Notice Jesus' compassion on those who were marginalized by society.  They were the unmentionables"  Jesus didn't go to the rich and famous, but to those who were broken.  Though all of these were clear signs, some still had other designs and intentions for him.  

6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

Even though you would think all the miracles of mercy Jesus performed would solidify his identity as the Messiah, instead they became a stumbling block. Another word for "stumbling block" is "offensive".  Jesus was offensive to some because rather than being a conquering hero, he was a suffering servant. 

Though we should never try to be offensive as Jesus' disciples, we should never shirk from preaching the gospel of Jesus even if it is offensive.  As someone has said, "the only thing that should be offensive is the gospel".  Some people are offended at the thought they are a sinner in need of Savior.  

How do we try to make Jesus look like who we want him to be rather than who He really is?  How do people get offended by Jesus today?  Why is so hard for people to accept Jesus as their Savior?  Have you ever offended people by presenting the gospel?