1. Jesus offended many. Text: Matthew 11:1-6 “Blessed is he who is not offended by me.”

2. Politically Correctness Today there is pressure on everyone to be politically correct The idea is – Don't say anything that would offend anyone This concept has some merit. We should not be mean, cruel or vulgar. Lately, political correctness has gone berserk.

3. Matthew 11:1-6 1 Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities. 2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples 3 and said to Him, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?" 4 Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."

4. Background of text John is in prison and could be killed. He was killed later. (Matthew 14:1-11) John is beginning to doubt his mission and his message. Is this really the Messiah that is to come? Jesus sent back a reply.

5. Background of text What Jesus did not do: No encouragement to keep the faith No expression of sorrow or sympathy No words of comfort. No promises that things will be better. What Jesus did: Said what John needed to hear The truth

6. This was Jesus pattern To the Scribe who wanted to follow Jesus Matthew 8:19-22 19 Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go." 20 And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." 21 Then another of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." 22 But Jesus said to him, "Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead."

7. This was Jesus pattern To the rich ruler who wanted eternal life Matthew 19:16, 21-22 16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" 21 Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

8. This was Jesus pattern To Nicodemus who wanted salvation John 3:9-12 9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, "How can these things be?" 10 Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11 Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

9. This was Jesus pattern To the Greek woman who wanted a miracle Mark 7:26-28 26 The woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 But Jesus said to her, "Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs." 28 And she answered and said to Him, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children's crumbs."

10. This was Jesus pattern To Peter wanted to know John's fate John 21:20-22 20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays You?" 21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, "But Lord, what about this man?" 22 Jesus said to him, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me."

11. In the Old Testament Elijah to Elisha – 2 Kings 2:1-7 3 times Elijah told Elisha to go away Elisha refused Finally he was given the mantle of Elijah

12. In the Old Testament Naaman – 2 Kings 5:9-11 9 Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and he stood at the door of Elisha's house. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean." 11 But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, "Indeed, I said to myself, 'He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.'

14. Are you offended? Class, sermon, preacher, elders, song leader, deacons, brother or sister in the church? Some say we should preach the gospel so that no one is offended. Impossible! Some get angry at God. Galatians 4:16 Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?

15. Are you offended? It is not what is said or how it is said. It depends on your reaction to it. Acts 2 – Cut to the heart – repented and were baptized. Acts 7 – Cut to the heart – stoned Stephen

16. Are you offended? This is what the Word of God does Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

17. Are you offended? How do we convince people to repent of their sins – unless they know they have sinned? How do we teach them to worship God properly unless they know the way they are doing it is wrong? How do we convert a wicked world without pointing out their wickedness?

18. Are you offended at Jesus? Matthew 11:6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me. Matthew 13:57a So they were offended at Him.