Nagging Doubts & Stalwart Faith

Matthew 11:2–6 ESV

2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 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. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

I. Introduction & Generational Thinking (v.2)

Upon first glance, it can appear that John—while in prison—was having doubts about Jesus being the messiah. While this is a certainly a possibility, some commentators don’t believe this question was generated because of doubt on John’s part, but rather, John’s desire to strengthen the faith of his own disciples regarding Jesus.

Listen to how J.C. Ryle put it in his commentary on Matthew:

Expository Thoughts on Matthew (Matthew 11:1–15: Christ’s Testimony about John the Baptist)

This question did not arise from doubt or unbelief on the part of John. We do that holy man injustice, if we interpret it in such a way. It was put for the benefit of his disciples. It was meant to give them an opportunity of hearing from Christ’s own lips, the evidence of His divine mission. No doubt John the Baptist felt that his own ministry was ended. Something within him told him that he would never come forth from Herod’s prison-house, but would surely die. He remembered the ignorant jealousies that had already been shown by his disciples towards the disciples of Christ. He took the most likely course to dispel those jealousies for ever. He sent his followers to “hear and see” for themselves.

The conduct of John the Baptist in this matter affords a striking example to ministers, teachers, and parents, when they draw near the end of their course. Their chief concern should be about the souls of those they are going to leave behind them. Their great desire should be to persuade them to cleave to Christ. The death of those who have guided and instructed us on earth ought always to have this effect.

In other words, John was thinking generationally. He was kingdom-minded. He knew his ministry was coming to an end. He was in prison and would likely die there at the hands of King Herod. His disciples were angry and confused. They were jealous of Jesus getting all the attention instead of their Rabbi, John. In order to resolve this, John sent his disciples to Jesus himself so as the quench all doubts. Listen to John’s attitude about his own ministry:

John 3:26–30 ESV

26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” 27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”

This is the mindset we need to have as well. This is the point of our life, our family, and our church. We all have a life to spend and we will spend it on something or someone. We are to be spent on the lives of other people so that they might believe, enjoy, and obey Christ. John the Baptist wasn’t concerned that he wasn’t getting the attention he once had. He realized it was never about that. Whether rich or poor, beloved or despised, famous or forgotten, if Christ was exalted, then his heart was full. Oh, may it be so with us!

II. Nagging Doubts (vv.3-5)

Now, while the thrust of John’s question may have been for the benefit of his disciples, there was certainly doubt present in the situation, whether that be doubt present in John’s disciples or in John himself. We should not move on too quickly and miss what there is to learn about our doubts and Christ’s response to them.

A. The Presence of Doubts

In my experience, most Christians have had moments of doubt. I know I have. Our hearts are often so fickle. Sometimes we may wonder if God truly loves us. We may wonder if he is really good when there is so much evil in the world. We may wonder if Christ really is the only way.

When these doubts are present, it is common for them to morph into guilt—guilt for doubting God at all. However, it is important to keep in mind that there are two kinds of doubt: doubt which results in disobedience, and doubt which causes us to cling to Christ even more. In other words, there is a distinction between the feeling of doubt and the action of doubt. If we feel nervous or unsure about who God is or what he has done or promised, and we live in that state—paralyzed and disobedient—then that is sin and it is to be repented of. But if your have those strong feelings of doubt, yet you are humble towards God and draw near to Him, crying “I believe; help my unbelief!”, then you are in good company. How many of the Psalms of David show this pattern? Fear and doubt expressed, then laid at the feet of God in prayer.

And this is precisely the point at which this passage is so helpful. Jesus was well aware of the fear and doubt in the hearts of John’s disciples, and possibly even John himself.

B. The Answer to our Doubts

The way that Jesus answers the question is telling. Instead of condemning the questioner, saying “How dare you question that I am the messiah!”, Jesus says “Go and report to John what you hear and see…”. In other words, the answer to our doubts is Christ himself; by hearing his words and seeing his works.

1. Hearing His Words

God’s words are powerful. When he speaks, worlds are made; darkness gives way to light; nations are brought forth and nations are destroyed; the dead are raised to life. When we hear and meditate on God’s word, it truly affects us. When our hearts are plagued with the weight of doubt and fear, the very best medicine for our weary souls is hearing the words of our God. While the entire Bible is God’s Word, there is something quite special about passages where God is speaking directly; passages like Matthew 11:28–30, which says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

So if your heart is doubting, go to God’s word. Read or listen to it. Let God speak over you and into you. Preach to your heart; call it to believe all that God has spoke.

2. Seeing His Works

Another answer to our doubts is seeing Christ’s work. Now, while we aren’t physically with Jesus like his disciples were, we all know how encouraging stories of God’s work in the lives of other people can be. Sometimes God heals a person with cancer after others have been praying for them. Sometimes He breaks the chains of sin in someone’s life and brings them to saving faith in Christ. Regardless of the work He does, hearing about and seeing these works in other people is vital for the health of our faith.

III. Stalwart Faith (v.6)

We will spend the remainder of our time unpacking verse 6 which says, “And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

A. Why Christ was Offensive Then

The concept of Christ being offensive is commonly addressed in the Bible. Listen to some other passages that reference it:

1 Corinthians 1:22–25 ESV

22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1 Peter 2:6–8 ESV

6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

In these passages, Paul and Peter mention how offensive Jesus was to many of the Jews of his day. Paul says specifically that it is Christ’s crucifixion that was so offensive to them. They were expecting a Messiah who would make Israel a military nation and conquer the Romans by force. They did not want a Messiah who came to conquer their real enemy—sin. The fact that he would die such a humiliating death, love his enemies, and unite Jew and Gentile was so contrary to the Jewish mind of that day made the thought of converting to Christianity utterly detestable to them. They were offended by Christ. His humiliating death and love for his enemies was also the thing that made the Greeks scoff at Christianity. They saw it is weak and foolish. All of their God’s sought glory by self-exaltation and killing the competition. Christ, the very Son of the Father, left his glory and became a man, to die for man, and to bring man back to a right standing with their creator.

The unbelievers in Jesus’ day serve as an example and warning for us. If you boil down the problem these unbelievers had, fundamentally, it would be wanting a Messiah of their own making, rather than accepting him as he truly is; as he has revealed himself. This is the fundamental sin of all cults and pagan religions. Confirming God to our image, rather than us being conformed to His. Listen to how St. Paul puts in in his letter to the Roman church:

Romans 1:21–23 ESV

21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

B. Why Christ is Offensive Now

In our society, the pendulum has swung in the opposite direction. While the Jews and Greeks were offended at the perceived lack of glory that Christ had when he humbled himself and became a man, people in our day are offended by the very presence of his glory. They like the idea of a humble God who came to serve them, but they hate the idea of a risen and glorified king who requires their loyalty and obedience; one who goes to war against the sin they love so much. Again, this is the age old problem of wanting a God made in our image rather that us being made into his.

I am sad to say that many Christians—including myself—have fallen into this same trap. Respecting the opinions of people more than the words of the eternal God. When something in Scripture offends our modern sensibilities, we tend to explain it away or simply ignore thinking about it. To show you what I mean, here are some examples of issues that I have seen even Christians get uncomfortable about.

The Natures and Roles of Men and Women

God designed men to lead, protect, and provide.

God designed women to serve, nurture, and be fruitful.

This is good and by God’s design, but our society hates this. They don’t want distinctions between men and women. They want androgyny. They want men to go against the way God made them and be soft, weak and passive. They want women to be hard and strong; leaders in the home, church, workplace, and society.

This is contrary to God’s design and His word, yet our beliefs and sensitivities are often more influence by the world than by God’s word.

Modesty for Men and Women

Men and woman are called to be modest, but in different ways, in keeping with our nature and propensities.

God commands this regarding men: 1 Timothy 2:8 “I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;”

The Pharisees were immodest men; praying in the public square to be seen by others, wearing elaborate clothing, and seeking glory from self-exaltation instead of self-sacrifice.

God commands this regarding women: 1 Timothy 2:9–10 “likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.”

Oh, how our rebel hearts hate this! How dare God tell me how to live and how to dress! We want outward beauty that gives glory to ourselves instead of inward beauty that gives glory to God.

C. The Need for Stalwart Faith

There are of course dozens of issues I could have brought up, but I perceive those to be sensitive issues that we are often embarrassed to talk about. This brings me to my final point. We need stalwart faith. We need a faith that is willing to take God at his word. We need a faith that is willing to embrace difficult truth, despite how uncomfortable it is.

Stalwart faith is steadfast, immovable, and steady. It is also joyful and optimistic. It is humble and kind. It is unafraid and ready to fight when the time is right.

Think of Joshua, who was strong and courageous as God had commanded. He lead the Israelites into battle against the pagan nations and conquered them, thought they were greater in number.

Think of David who was confident in His God and was willing to defy Goliath at any cost. Not because it was comfortable, but because it was right.

Think of our Lord Jesus who endured the cross for the joy set before him, praying for his enemies who were crucifying him.

This is stalwart faith and it will change the world.