When in Doubt – John the Baptist

1 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee. 2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 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 on account of me.” (Matthew 11:1-6)

How could John the Baptist have had any doubts? He had foretold the coming of Messiah, saying clearly and often, that “after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11). John had seen, when Jesus had come to John to be baptized, that the Father spoke out of heaven and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove lighted upon Jesus. John had seen some of his own disciples start following Jesus when John pointed Jesus out and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:30, 35-42).

But now, John was in prison for calling out Herod’s illicit relationship with Herodias, his brother’s wife (Matthew 14:3,4), and he was struggling. Hadn’t Jesus come to bring the kingdom of God? And yet, here was John, very much a victim of the kingdom of man. It wasn’t that John had given up hope in the coming Messiah, but rather he was doubting that Jesus might be that Messiah. Perhaps there was another they should expect.

The very strongest of us will doubt. Believers of all ages have had doubts. The causes of those doubts are multitudinous, but they all come down to one thing — we are all sinners who have trouble believing in God and His word. And John gives us the pattern for how to deal with our doubts. ASK JESUS!

Jesus gives John an answer to his doubts. He points to the evidence that John can be surely aware of, that he, Jesus, has performed extraordinary miracles that only the Messiah would be able to do. God is working through Jesus to change the world. Jesus doesn’t just say, “Sorry, John, but you need to get with the program and stop doubting.” Jesus gives him evidence.

Jesus doesn’t rebuke John, except in what might be the lightest and gentlest of ways, giving only positive incentive to John by saying, “Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” Jesus, to quote Psalm 103:14, “remembers that we are dust,” and, “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him” (verse 13). Jesus will never turn away the doubter who comes to him to resolve his doubt.

I have doubted many times. And I have found my greatest help in resolving my doubts by coming to Jesus and talking to him about my doubts. Time and again he has clarified my thinking or led me to evidence that explodes my doubts. When in doubt, go to Jesus.