Doubts – Matthew 11:1-10

I have had doubts about the faith. I remember walking out of a college class on philosophy that had me doubting. It sparked in me a desire to have evidence for my faith. I had experienced the saving work of God in my life, but I had intellectual doubts. I also remember expecting answers to prayer that never came and experiencing spiritual doubts. I’ve read books that challenged my faith and I had to wrestle through the issues they presented to alleviate my doubts. I expect I’ll have times of doubting again. I also expect those doubts will be resolved.

John the Baptist had doubts. And he shared them with Jesus. They were doubts about Jesus. Jesus handled John’s doubts with great compassion.

When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.

Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written,

“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ (Matthew 11:1-10 ESV)

John the Baptist has been languishing in prison for saying that Herod could not have his brother’s wife.  And as strong as his faith has been he is struggling with doubts now.  Is Jesus really the Christ, the Messiah?  He perhaps has anticipated, as much of Israel has, that Messiah would establish his kingdom over all outsiders and restore Israel to its glory.  Yet here John sits in prison. But John is the one who announced that Jesus was the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:36). Who could be more of a believer than that?  Perhaps he is just worn and depressed from being in jail.

Jesus’ answer is a very mild rebuke, reminding John that he has exercised kingdom power over illness and death and has, in line with all the prophecies, preached the good news to the poor (an allusion to Isaiah 61:1ff).  Then Jesus honors John by highlighting that he has been a strong, tough prophet and even more so, the forerunner of Yahweh’s coming to Israel to rule the kingdom.  Because that is the import of the passage Jesus quotes, Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi 3:1, indicating that Yahweh is coming.  Jesus is Yahweh, the second person of the godhead, sent by Yahweh the Father. John was chosen to make this unique announcement and fulfilled it perfectly.

There will be times when we don’t feel God is doing what He should by way of fixing our world or maybe more specifically, by fixing our personal world.  We will doubt Him. It does no good to ignore our doubts. John didn’t. He expressed them to Jesus. We should too.  And we should expect the Lord to help us resolve our doubts, because He will if we seek Him.  And know this, beloved, He understands our struggles and our doubts and He challenges us with, “Blessed is the one who is not offended by Me.”