Asking for Help - Lent 4 - 2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwR577VjekM

Asking for Help

Lent 4 - 2026

God Heals Hurting People

John the Baptist 

Baptized Jesus

In Prison

Murdered

“When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 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 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 

[Remain in the state of being tripped up] 

on account of me.”

–Matthew 11:2-6

[We will all stumble]

In Jesus’ first recorded sermon he quoted Isaiah 61 in Luke 4:22-29

 “Jesus went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up… Sabbath day he went into the synagogue… He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Faith is a choice, Admiration is not.

They admired him but were having trouble with believing he was fulfilling that scripture.

22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked. [They knew he was a smooth speaker, He knew their unbelieving hearts] 23 Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ and you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’” 24 “Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. 25 I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. 26 Yet Elijah was NOT sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. 27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet NOT one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.” 28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. 30 But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way!”

-Luke 4:22-29

Thank you for being here to learn…

Many of our problems stem from our not fully understanding something in the Bible.

John the Baptist was hurting largely because he did not fully understand the Scriptures.

He thought that Jesus was going to get revenge on the Romans.

Is. 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, [Spiritually]

2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor 

[Here is where Jesus stopped when he read Isaiah 61 in Luke 4:18,19]

and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair"

-Isaiah 61:1-4

[John the Baptist felt everything in blue.]

Jesus pointed John to the Bible.

Always go to Jesus.

WWJD

(You know what he would NOT do)

Beatitudes

(Matthew 5:1-3)

“Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat [!] down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them. He said: 3 “Blessed/happy are the poor in spirit, [Those who realized their own helplessness] for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Happiness is the freedom to know that you can always ask God for “Help!”

John the Baptist while in prison did go to Jesus for help by sending his question to Jesus. 

Sometimes the greatest help is biblical clarification.

What can you bring to Jesus that you have not already brought?

What thing have you already brought, but still need his patience and strength?

Promises of God

“I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,” declares the LORD.

- Jeremiah 30:17

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” [Forgiven]

- 1 Peter 2:24

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

[When you are resting on His shoulders]

-Matthew 11:28-30