Doubts

 N.T.#118 "Doubts"

July 28, 2023

Matthew 11-Part 2

And said unto Him, Art thou He that should come, or do we look for another?

LET IT GLOW

Doubts come and go, right? Do hard times seem to result in our sliding away from our faith in Jesus? Well, we are not the only one to experience doubt. Read on to find out who it was.

After Jesus sent His disciples out to minister to the Jews, He continued to preach, teach, and heal. Then an unusual thing happened. John the Baptist sent his disciples to enquire of Jesus if He was the Messiah. (verse 3) John had heard of the works of Christ while he was in prison. So John sent 2 of his disciples to Jesus with the above question. 

John had been put into prison by Herod. Herod had married his own sister-in-law, and John publicly rebuked Herod's flagrant sin. John's purpose was to prepare the people for the coming Messiah. (3:3) If Jesus really was that Messiah, then why was John in prison when he could have been preaching to crowds, preparing their hearts? Was Jesus the Messiah foretold of by the prophets or should they look for another? (Luke tells us of this event in chapter 7.)

Was John expecting a pastoral visit? did he want to be broken out of jail or something? John was perplexed. Did he expect Jesus to overthrow the Roman government and establish His kingdom on earth then? Where was His army? John needed answers, for he was facing a trial and death. Did John need his faith confirmed? 

How did Jesus answer John's doubts?

• He sent John's disciples to go tell John what they had heard and seen.
• The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor (which Jesus did). 
• God blesses those who do not turn away (offended) because of Jesus.

LET IT GROW

Jesus' answer was to tell John what miracles, which only god could perform, the men heard and saw. Happy are those who accept God's will for their lives. They praise, honor, and glorify Him. They don't turn away, against, or become bitter because of His will for their life.

The New Living Translation says it this way, God blesses those who do not turn away because of Me. (verse 6)

William Beck says it this way, "Happy is anyone who doesn't turn against Me.

I haven't denied Christ, but I have wasted days going my own way. Those were days I turned away from Jesus. I was too busy to read the Scriptures or pray. I can't get those days back and neither can you. But grace abounds; He is faithful. I'm so happy that Jesus didn't turn away from me!

LET IT GO

There is nothing better than You, Jesus.

How faithful and forgiving You are.

Encourage us all today, for You are The Messiah!