Doubting – Luke 7:18-23

I have had doubts about the Christian faith on numerous occasions.  One in particular seems silly now, but I was reading a book about Zen Buddhism, and it was quite convincing.  I was questioning the validity of Christianity.  A day’s reflection brought me back round to the truth.  I could see the flaws in Buddhism and I stopped doubting.  But I would say that my periodic doubting gave way to even stronger confidence in Jesus.

The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’” In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”  (Luke 7:18-23 ESV)

Luke does not mind admitting that the people’s hero, the highly respected John the Baptist, had doubts about his relative being the Messiah.  He was in jail so he couldn’t express his doubts in person and this may have been the occasion for his doubts.  Why was he languishing in prison if Jesus was the Messiah and ready to introduce the kingdom of God on earth?

But John’s expectations about Messiah, if as described, were not accurate.  Jesus, too, must first suffer.  Jesus graciously responds to John’s query with a demonstration and report of his miracles.  No one else could have the ministry he has except Messiah.  And he gently rebukes John with the statement, “Blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

Even the greatest saint will have doubts at times and Jesus understands our fragile frame.  If we bring our doubts to him he is most willing to walk us through those and get us back on track.

 

P.S., I have written a new book, John 1:1 and the Jehovah’s Witnesses. It is free here to download as a pdf.