Questioning Our Beliefs

 N.T.#118 "Questioning Our Beliefs"

July 31, 2023 

Matthew 11-Part 3

And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me. (verse 6)

LET IT GLOW

Questioning our beliefs can be a good thing. It can result in our digging deeper into God's Word. We search for answers to our questions. We find reassurance that Jesus is Truth and God has everything under control, His control.

John the Baptist needed reassurance that Jesus is the Messiah, for John was in prison and facing death. Now this is the guy who had baptized Jesus and heard God say Jesus was His Son with whom He was well pleased. John preached repentance to prepare people for the Messiah as he lived primitively. Because John pointed out Herod's sin, he was put into prison. Do you think Joh wanted to know for sure that his sufferings were for something?

Do we sometimes second guess faith when things don't go our way? When we stand up for the Truth of God's Word, yet folks reject it. It is hard. Especially when family members make fun of our commitment to the Lord. And then there are times church members get upset with us for doing what is right, showing them they are wrong. Others make it difficult for us to be faithful to Jesus.

We must carry on the Word and faith in Jesus. It will be worth it after all. We will win heaven in the end. so stay surrendered and stand strong in Jesus. Let Him fight our battles.

LET IT GROW

What was the answer Jesus wanted sent to John?

Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. (verse 5)

These are the works of Christ and His miracles. Isaiah 35:5 and 61:1 referred to the works the Messiah would do. Jesus answered John's doubts by pointing to the acts of healing the blind, lame, deaf, curing the lepers, raising the dead, and preaching the Good News to the poor. With so much evidence, Jesus's identity was obvious. (Life Application Study Bible)

Jesus' Words and deeds validated who He is. Anyone can make claims, but Jesus backed up His with the works of the Messiah. Did Jesus not meet John's expectations of Him? Did John expect Jesus to set up His kingdom right then? 

Jesus knew things to come that Joh didn't know:

• the timing of the full advent of the messianic kingdom;
• His impending atoning death and miraculous resurrection;
• His commissioning of the apostles and ascension to the right hand of the Father;
• the coming Holy Spirit at Pentecost;
• the establishment of the church;
• Gentiles converted by faith;
• His coming perfect kingdom when John the Baptizer and all the believing Jews of the first century participating.

So John wasn't wrong in his picture of what the messianic age would look like; he was just wrong about the timing of the events. Jesus didn't rebuke John for his doubting, didn't give blame or shame, nor lecture him in a condescending tone. He simply sent the messengers back to report what they had seen and heard. That was enough to give encouragement and reassurance. 

When we doubt, we must turn to Jesus, not away from Him.

LET IT GO

Where would we be if it wasn't for the love of God, Jesus' dying on the cross in our place?

Jesus set us free from the chains of our sins and doubts.

How gracious and loving You are, Sweet Jesus!

Our hope is found in Christ alone.

Father, You know all things, so we are going to trust You with all things.