Are You the One?
"Come to Me, all you who are weary"
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- A verse number shows the Bible’s exact words.
- An underlined word shows what it means.
Story
What happened?
Tap a verse number, like , to read the Bible’s exact words.
The whole story, in shortWhat happens, start to finish. Open it if you want the ending first.
From prison, John the Baptist sent his disciples to ask Jesus, "Are You the One who was to come?" Jesus told them to report what they saw: the blind see, the lame walk, the dead are raised, and the poor hear good news. Then Jesus praised John to the crowds, thanked his Father for revealing these things to little children, and said, "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
Where it is in the Bible: Matthew 11:2-30
Who’s who and what came beforePeople, places, and the story so far. Open it anytime.
Scene Card
Cast
- Jesus: The one the Gospels present as the promised Messiah and the Son of God.
- John the Baptist: The prophet who baptized Jesus. Now he is in prison.
- John's disciples: Followers of John, sent to ask Jesus a question.
- The crowds: People who had gone out to the wilderness to hear John.
Setting
- Galilee. John is locked in a prison far away, in a fortress.
When
- About 2,000 years ago, during Jesus's work in Galilee.
Before the Story
John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus. He told people to turn back to God. He said someone greater was coming after him (3:11).
John baptized Jesus. Then John saw the Spirit come down on Jesus like a dove (3:16).
Then John was arrested. King Herod put him in prison because John told Herod he was doing wrong (4:12, 14:3-4).
Here's what you know that John doesn't: Jesus has been healing the sick and preaching good news, just as the prophets promised. But John is in prison, and he is wondering.
Map of the Story
| Scene | Verses | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. A question from prison | 11:2-6 | John asks, "Are You the One?" |
| 2. More than a prophet | 11:7-15 | Jesus tells the crowd who John is |
| 3. Children in the marketplace | 11:16-19 | People said no to John and to Jesus |
| 4. Hidden and revealed | 11:20-27 | Jesus thanks his Father |
| 5. Come to Me | 11:28-30 | Jesus invites the tired to rest |
Plain Retelling
Scene 1 of 5A Question From Prison
John was in prison. He heard about the things Jesus was doing.
So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus a question.
"Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?" (11:3).
"The One who was to come" means the Messiah, the King God promised to send.
Jesus didn't just say yes. He said, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see" (11:4).
"The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor" (11:5).
These were the very things the prophet Isaiah said would happen when God came to save his people.
"Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me" (11:6).
Scene 2 of 5More Than a Prophet
As John's disciples were leaving, Jesus talked to the crowd about John.
He asked them what they had gone out to the wilderness to see. A reed blowing in the wind? A man in fancy clothes? No.
"A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet" (11:9).
John was the messenger God promised, sent ahead to get people ready for the Lord.
"Among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he" (11:11).
Jesus said John was the "Elijah" the prophets said would come.
Scene 3 of 5Children in the Marketplace
Jesus said the people of his day were like children in the marketplace, shouting at their friends.
"We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn" (11:17). A dirge is a sad song for a funeral.
This is a comparison. Nothing pleased those people.
John didn't feast, and people said he had a demon. Jesus ate with everyone, and people said he was a glutton, "a friend of tax collectors and sinners!" (11:19).
They meant it as an insult. But it was true. Jesus is a friend of sinners.
Scene 4 of 5Hidden and Revealed
Jesus warned the towns where he had done most of his miracles, because they did not turn back to God.
Then Jesus prayed out loud. "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children" (11:25).
People who thought they were wise missed who Jesus was. People who were like little children, humble and trusting, saw it.
Jesus said only he truly knows the Father, and he shows the Father to whoever he chooses.
Scene 5 of 5Come to Me
Then Jesus spoke to everyone who was worn out.
"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (11:28).
"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" (11:29).
A yoke is a wooden bar that goes across the necks of two animals, so they can pull a load together.
"For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (11:30).
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "Are You the One who was to come" (11:3) | Even John, a great prophet, had questions. |
| "Report to John what you hear and see" (11:4) | Jesus answered with what he was doing, not just words. |
| "More than a prophet" (11:9) | John had the special job of getting people ready for Jesus. |
| "A friend of tax collectors and sinners" (11:19) | People meant it as an insult. Jesus wore it gladly. |
| "Revealed them to little children" (11:25) | You don't have to be clever to know Jesus. |
| "Come to Me, all you who are weary" (11:28) | Jesus invites tired people to come to him. |
| "I am gentle and humble in heart" (11:29) | Jesus is kind with people who are worn out. |
Back Then
John was held in a fortress called Machaerus. It stood on a hill east of the Dead Sea. The historian Josephus wrote about it.
Jesus's answer echoes Isaiah. Isaiah promised the blind would see, the deaf would hear, and the lame would leap (Isaiah 35:5-6). He also promised good news for the poor (Isaiah 61:1).
Teachers spoke of a "yoke." People talked about God's law as a yoke to carry. Jesus offered his own yoke, and called it easy.
Literal Reader Alert
Did John stop believing in Jesus? The Bible doesn't say he stopped believing. He asked an honest question while he was suffering. Jesus didn't scold him. He sent him an answer, then praised him in front of everyone.
Is it wrong to have doubts? Bringing your questions to Jesus is not wrong. John did. Jesus answered by pointing to what he does.
"Even the least in the kingdom is greater than he." Is John less important? No. Jesus had just called John the greatest. He is saying how wonderful it is to belong to God's kingdom, which Jesus was bringing.
Is Jesus's "yoke" a real piece of wood? No. This is a comparison. Jesus means: walk with me, learn from me, and let me carry the load with you.
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| John | Unsure | He was in prison, waiting and wondering (11:2-3) |
| The crowds | Curious | Jesus asked what they had gone out to see (11:7) |
| Jesus | Thankful | He praised his Father (11:25) |
| Weary people | Tired | They were carrying heavy burdens (11:28) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
What do you bring to Jesus today? Tap one.
A question
John brought one from prison. Jesus answered him, and he will hear you too.
I'm tired
"Come to Me, all you who are weary." That invitation is for you.
A heavy load
Jesus's yoke is easy. He carries the weight with you.
I feel left out
Jesus was called a friend of sinners. He is your friend too.
You Might Have Heard
"Strong believers never have doubts."
What's true: Faith trusts God's promises.
What the story is mainly about: John the Baptist, the greatest of the prophets, had a question. Jesus didn't send him away. He pointed John to what he was doing: healing, raising, and bringing good news to the poor. Then he called John great.
Where Jesus is: Answering a prisoner's question, and calling out to everyone who is worn out.
Good News
John was in prison, wondering. Jesus sent him good news.
"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (11:28).
Jesus is the One who was to come. He is gentle and humble. He gives rest to tired people.
Jesus is the promised One. He is gentle with people who are worn out, and he gives them rest.
Big Idea
John asked, "Are You the One?" Jesus is. He heals, brings good news, and gives rest to everyone who is weary.
If this story brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
Luther taught that faith often has to hold on when it can't see. He loved Jesus's invitation in Matthew 11:28, and often pointed troubled people to it: Christ calls the weary to himself, not the strong.
In Church
Many churches follow the Revised Common Lectionary. In Year A, it reads Matthew 11:2-11 on the Third Sunday of Advent, and Matthew 11:16-19 and 25-30 in early July (Lectionary 14).
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
How did that feel?
Using this at church
Read in church on
- Third Sunday of Advent Year AGospel, Matthew 11:2–11
- Lectionary 14 Year AGospel, Matthew 11:16–19, 25–30
For a newsletter or sermon notes
Are You the One?, explained in plain words. John the Baptist asks from prison. Jesus answers, and invites the weary to rest. About 11 minutes. https://freescripture.org/stories/are-you-the-one/
Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church