From Doubt to Greatness: Trusting Christ in Uncertainty

-Please grab your Bible and turn to pleasure of meeting you — my name is John and I have the honor and great privilege of serving Mission Church as the Lead Pastor. Mission Church exits to glorify God, and we are working toward that end — as we partner with God to see His Kingdom come in Northwest Las Vegas as it is in Heaven.

Please grab your Bible and turn to Matthew 11. If you don’t own a Bible — we would love to give you one. We have a resource library in the foyer — feel free to stop by there and pick up a Bible — it’s our gift to you. Here at Mission Church we lead, preach, teach, and sing from the Bible — so you will need a Bible.

Today we are continuing our journey through the Gospel according to Matthew — a sermon series that we have entitled, “The King and His Kingdom.” And if you are able to — I would like to invite you to stand for the reading of God’s Word.

Matthew 11:1–11 (CSB)

1 When Jesus —ad finished giving instructions to his twelve disciples, he moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns. 2 Now when John heard in prison what the Christ was doing, he sent a message through his disciples 3 and asked him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

4 Jesus replied to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news, 6 and blessed is the one who isn’t offended by me.”

7 As these men were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? 8 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? See, those who wear soft clothes are in royal palaces. 9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:

See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;

he will prepare your way before you.

11 “Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has appeared, but the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

This is the Word of the Lord. Praise be to God

Let’s pray

Let’s be honest. Life—well, life is not without its challenges. It can be difficult—and flat-out overwhelming at times. Life can feel like a relentless series of storms, where one wave of disappointment crashes into another.

We’ve all been there. That moment when life just doesn’t go the way we thought it would— when expectations fall apart, when prayers seem to go unanswered, and we’re left wondering, “God, where are You in all of this?”

Maybe it’s a job that didn’t work out, a relationship that’s crumbling, or an unexpected health diagnosis that flipped your world upside down — the truth is — we often find ourselves caught in a rip current — wondering how we’ll navigate the next wave. And — it’s in those chaotic seasons of life — where doubt tends to creep in — and where we begin to question — not only what God is doing — but sometimes even who God is and if we can really trust Him.

Tell me — have you ever felt this tension? Have you ever been confronted with the tug-of-war between what you believe to be true and what you’re experiencing? In other words — you’ve heard and you believe the words and the promises of Scripture — and as a result — you know that God is good, you know that Jesus loves you —and — you know —without a shadow of a doubt — that Jesus will never leave you nor forsake you.

But then —the hard realities of life happens —loss, disappointment, pain, and prayers that seem to go unanswered. And it’s in those moments — where doubt starts to whisper: “Did God really say? Is God really there? Does He really care? Is Jesus truly who I thought He was?”

Perhaps you’ve been there. Maybe you're in that space right now. You want to believe, but life keeps throwing curveballs your way. You want to trust, but deep down, you’re wondering, “How can I trust Jesus when life feels broken? When everything I thought I knew seems shaky and uncertain? How can I trust in God’s goodness when my life feels shattered and chaotic?!?

Today — as we navigate through our text — we will uncover a profound truth — We are going to see that — In moments of doubt and uncertainty, God invites us to fix our eyes on Him, reminding us that true faith is not the absence of doubt but the intentional choice to trust His character and His promises, even when life feels overwhelming.

We are going to see this truth unfold in three progressions:

Doubting in the Dark (vs. 1-3)

The Call to Trust (vs. 4-6)

Greatness Redefined (vs. 7-11)

Now—up to this point—in the first 10 chapters — Matthew has been working meticulously to prove who Jesus truly is. He begins by presenting the genealogy of Jesus, establishing His royal lineage — and then he moves into the miraculous birth, showing us Christ’s divine origin. And — Matthew doesn’t stop there— for he continues to pile on the evidence as he points to the fulfilled prophecies, the powerful testimony of John the Baptist, and even God the Father’s own voice affirming His Son at Jesus’ baptism. And then we see the proof in Jesus’ actions — His teachings that leave crowds in awe — His miraculous works that confirm his message and reveal His authority over sickness, nature, and even death itself.

In other words — Matthew has carefully gathered all the evidence, like a skilled lawyer presenting his case. And — every piece of evidence points to one undeniable conclusion: Jesus is the Christ. He is the long-awaited Son of David, the promised Messiah, and the very Son of God.

And now — as we move into chapter 11 — Matthew shifts his focus. He’s given us all the evidence we need to know that Jesus is the Christ— But — starting here in chapter 11— Matthew begins to show us how people are responding to this evidence. And — its interesting that he begins — not with an expression of faith — but with doubt. And not just any doubt, but the doubt of someone who had once been absolutely certain—John the Baptist.

This leads us now to our first point:

Doubting in the Dark

Matthew 11:1 (CSB)

1 When Jesus had finished giving instructions to his twelve disciples, he moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns.

Let’s pause for a moment and remember what just happened—Jesus had been preparing His disciples — giving them all the instructions they needed for their first solo mission. He sent them out to preach the gospel and to heal the sick. Then, after sending them off, Jesus didn’t take a break or go off to rest. No, He Himself continued the work—teaching and preaching the good news of the Kingdom. But something happened while He was out preaching—something unexpected.

You see —as Jesus was moving from town to town, some of John the Baptist’s disciples came to Him with a question. Look at verses 2-3

Matthew 11:2–3 (CSB)

2 Now when John heard in prison what the Christ was doing, he sent a message through his disciples 3 and asked him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

Now — before we get into the question that John’s disciples ask — let's pause and remember who John the Baptist is. Understand this wasn’t just any preacher —No! — John was bold, direct, and absolutely fearless. He didn’t mince words when it came to proclaiming the truth. John had no problem calling out the religious leaders for their hypocrisy, preaching repentance, and pointing people straight to Jesus, the Messiah.

In fact, John was the very definition of a faithful and courageous witness. And because of that—because he wasn’t afraid to speak the truth—he ended up in prison. You see, John didn’t shy away from confronting King Herod, calling him out for his sinful behavior. And that boldness landed him in a dark, cold prison cell.

In other words — John— wasn’t a guy who was known for doubt. But —things have changed. John’s no longer out in the wilderness, boldly proclaiming the truth. He’s in a prison cell, isolated and waiting. And in that darkness — doubt began to creep in. “Is Jesus really the Messiah?”

Have you ever felt like that? We’ve all been there at some point, right? You believe God is sovereign—you know He’s in control—but then things take a turn you didn’t expect, and you start asking, “If God is really in control, why did He let this happen to me?”

Once we grasp the truth that God is sovereign — we start building all these expectations of what we think He’s going to do. And when He doesn’t act the way we thought He would — that’s when doubt and disillusionment creep in.

If you’ve ever wrestled with doubts about God and His Word, take heart—you’re not alone. Alister McGrath once said,

“Doubt is natural within faith. It comes because of our human weakness and frailty.” - Alister McGrath

McGrath makes a key distinction between doubt and unbelief when He says,

“Unbelief is the decision to live your life as if there is no God. It is a deliberate choice to reject Jesus Christ and all that He stands for. But doubt is something quite different. Doubt arises within the context of faith. It’s a wistful longing to be sure of the things in which we trust.” - McGrath, “When Doubt Becomes Unbelief,” 8–10

Even Charles Spurgeon, the prince of preachers, struggled with doubt. He once said:

“Some of us who have preached the Word for years, and have been the means of working faith in others...have nevertheless been the subjects of the most fearful and violent doubts as to the truth of the very gospel we have preached.” Charles Spurgeon, “Psalm 69:14”

The reality is — even for those who seem to be the most faithful — faith can sometimes feel difficult—especially when life gets heavy. But here’s the good news: God is so gracious, and so kind, and so faithful that He meets us where we are.

As J.C. Ryle wisely put it:

“Doubting does not prove that a man has no faith, but only that his faith is small. And even when our faith is small, the Lord is ready to help us.” Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, 170

John the Baptist—the greatest prophet who ever lived —struggled with doubt. In that prison cell, even he wavered over whether Jesus was truly the Messiah. And like us — he needed to be reassured — and perhaps that’s where you are right now — in need of assurance — you need to see again that Jesus is worthy of your faith — worthy of your worship.

Now — I think it's helpful to understand what fosters doubt in our hearts — especially if we want to know how to respond when doubt arises. Well — our text is helpful — for —it details for us three distinct situations that commonly produce doubt within us.

First, doubt often shows up during difficult situations. We’ve already seen John—this bold, fiery prophet who proclaimed God’s Word and prepared the way for the Messiah. But now, where is he? Well — he’s sitting in a cold, dark prison cell. He’s facing shame, hunger, and physical and emotional struggles because he faithfully proclaimed the truth. And you know what? The same pattern often shows up in our own lives. When everything is going well, when life is smooth, it’s easy to proclaim our faith with confidence. But when we find ourselves in a tough situation—when we’re hit with unexpected illness, financial hardship, relational breakdowns, or any form of suffering—that’s when doubt rears its head. Like John, we might start to wonder, God, where are You?

Second, doubt is often accompanied by unmet expectations. Think about it—John was the one who had pointed people to Jesus and even prophesied that the Messiah would come with judgment (Matthew 3:11-12). But what did John see? Rome still ruled. Sin was rampant. Corruption was everywhere, and John himself was in prison! Jesus wasn’t exactly fulfilling the picture of judgment that John had of the Messiah. It’s not hard to imagine John thinking, “Wait a minute... wasn’t the Messiah supposed to deliver us?” Jesus wasn’t bringing the immediate judgment John had expected. Instead, He was hanging out with sinners and teaching about forgiveness as John sat in prison.

And isn’t this the same struggle we face? when our expectations of God don’t match our experiences? We have our own ideas about how God should act in our lives—how He should answer our prayers, solve our problems, or bring justice to the brokenness around us. We expect Him to show up in a certain way, and when He doesn’t, when our circumstances don’t improve, or when we see evil prevailing, we start to wonder, God, are You really in control? Are You really good?

Third, in the midst of all this, John was dealing with a limited perspective. He couldn’t see the whole picture. He didn’t know how things were going to unfold. So, he sent his disciples to ask Jesus the question burning in his heart: "Are You the One, or should we expect someone else?" (Matthew 11:3). And honestly, that’s where we often find ourselves—facing challenges, feeling like God isn’t meeting our expectations, and struggling to understand what He’s doing in our lives.

In fact, it’s in those tough times, especially when we’ve been faithfully walking with the Lord, that we start to ask, "God, where are You?" We think we know what He should be doing, but when the trials keep coming, it’s easy to feel disoriented. And let’s be honest—our perspective is always limited. Like John, we don’t see the full picture. Maybe we think God should fix things right now, or that our circumstances should change because we’ve been faithful. But God’s plan is often bigger and more complex than we can imagine.

For John, and for us, this story is a reminder that even though we can’t see the whole plan, God knows exactly what He’s doing. Even when doubt creeps in, we’re called to trust Him — knowing what Isaiah says in Isaiah 55:8.

Isaiah 55:8 (CSB)

8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

and your ways are not my ways.”

This is the Lord’s declaration.

So — How does Jesus respond to John’s question of doubt? How does He respond to our questions of doubt? Well — He calls us to trust Him

2. The Call to Trust

Matthew 11:4 (CSB)

4 Jesus replied to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see:

Now, Jesus knew John well. He knew that John wouldn’t be satisfied with just a simple “yes” or “no” answer. So instead, Jesus graciously sends John’s disciples back with something even better—evidence. The kind of evidence that would not only calm John’s doubts but strengthen his faith. Look at what He tells them—verse 5:

Matthew 11:5 (CSB)

5 The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news,

In other words — Jesus is telling John, “Go back and read your Bible. Read Isaiah 35 — read Isaiah 61 and tell me — What does Isaiah say? What did Isaiah prophesy about the Messiah? What would the Messiah do? What signs would follow His coming?”

And then — Jesus tells John’s disciples to report everything they had seen and everything they had heard —the blind are seeing, the lame are walking, lepers are being cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are being raised, and the good news is being proclaimed to the broken hearted. The very prophecies of Isaiah were being fulfilled right before their eyes.

Imagine the excitement of John’s disciples as they rush back to him, joy in their hearts, amazement on their faces. They had witnessed firsthand what was happening. They might of said something like, “John, you won’t believe it! Jesus healed the sick right in front of us. He touched a leper—yes, touched him!—and immediately his skin was restored, completely pure. The deaf can hear again! And His words, John—His words about God’s kingdom and salvation—they were powerful, life-giving. He’s preaching a message that sets people free, just like Isaiah prophesied!” And imagine the faith and the confidence that flooded John’s heart in that moment.

Then — in verse 6 — Jesus adds another layer to his response.

Matthew 11:6 (CSB)

6 and blessed is the one who isn’t offended by me.”

Brothers and sisters — this is a gentle — yet firm reminder to John—and to all of us—that we must be careful not to let our unmet expectations lead us into doubt or even resentment. You see— Jesus is telling John, in essence, “Don’t let your own expectations of what I should be doing cloud your trust in who I am.”

This is where Jesus challenges not just John’s faith, but ours as well. Let’s be honest — we all have expectations of how we think God should act in our lives. And — when God doesn’t meet those expectations—when He doesn’t rescue us from suffering in the way we expect, or solve our problems in the timing we desire—our faith is tested.

But — as R.C. Sproul wisely points out:

He has done everything necessary to save us and to secure for us eternal blessedness, but we often resent His “failure” to meet some other expectation we have of Him. We must remember that He is under no obligation to do anything for us. If He were to take our lives today, we would have no reason to do anything but praise Him forever for what He has done for us.

Sproul, Robert Charles. 2013. Matthew. St. Andrew’s Expositional Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Crossway.

This is a crucial reminder. Jesus has already secured for us our greatest need —the forgiveness of sin and our salvation. Every other expectation we have must be held in light of the eternal reality of what He has already accomplished. Even when He doesn’t meet our expectations in the here and now — He remains perfectly trustworthy. And so this is a call to trust Him — to surrender our unmet expectations and rest in the sufficiency of what Jesus has already done for us.

Dearly beloved, there will be seasons in your life when trusting in Jesus is not going to be easy. There will be times when God’s plans seem to contradict your understanding. And it’s in those moments — where we must battle our doubts with joyful submission to Jesus and remain grounded in God’s Word. Just as John needed to be reminded of the prophecies of Isaiah, I encourage you to run to and remain in God’s Word. Remember, your emotions are not the arbiter of truth—God’s Word is. Therefore, submit joyfully to it as your authority!

Friends, Jesus invites John—and us—to look beyond our limited perspective and to trust Him fully. And so — when we experience those moments of uncertainty and unmet expectations, let us fix our eyes on Jesus, trusting that He is faithful, even when our circumstances say otherwise.

As Charles Spurgeon so wisely said,

We cannot always trace God’s hand but we can always trust God’s heart.

Charles Spurgeon

Now, as John’s disciples left to deliver the glorious, faith-strengthening evidence that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus turns His attention to the crowds. And — in this moment — Jesus not only defends John but also redefines what it means to be truly great in the eyes of God.

3. Greatness Redefined

Matthew 11:7 (CSB)

7 As these men were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John:

At this point, — we have to understand—there was no amount of doubt in John that could separate him from his Savior. But think of the pressure Jesus faced in this moment. The prophet who had once boldly pointed to Jesus as the Messiah was now publicly questioning Him. It would have been easy for Jesus, in an attempt to safeguard His own reputation, to distance Himself from John or even downplay John’s significance. But He doesn’t. Instead, Jesus takes the time to defend and affirm John for who he was and the role he played in God’s Kingdom.

Look again at verse 7—Jesus turns to the crowd and asks:

Matthew 11:7–8 (CSB)

…“What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? 8 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? See, those who wear soft clothes are in royal palaces.

In other words, when you went out into the desert to hear John preach, or down to the Jordan River to be baptized—what did you expect to find? Did you think John was a fickle prophet, one easily swayed by the changing tides of public opinion? Was he a man who bent under pressure? Absolutely not! John was tough—he had a backbone of steel. His preaching was fearless, faithful, and uncompromising.

Then Jesus asks the crowd a third question:

Matthew 11:9–10 (CSB)

9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:

See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;

he will prepare your way before you.

In other words — John wasn’t just any prophet—he was the prophet—the one whose coming was prophesied in Malachi 3:1, which says:

Malachi 3:1 (CSB)

1 “See, I am going to send my messenger, and he will clear the way before me.

John the Baptist was that messenger. He was the one appointed by God to prepare the way for the coming of the King, the Messiah. John was the prophet specifically called to announce the arrival of the Kingdom of God and to introduce Jesus as the long-awaited Savior. His role was unlike any other prophet before him.

John was the herald, chosen to stand on the threshold of both the Old Covenant and the New, proclaiming the dawn of God’s redemptive plan in Christ. And— In this way — John wasn’t merely another prophet in a long line of faithful servants—rather — he was the culmination of the prophetic tradition — preparing the world for the Messiah.

And then — after affirming John’s unique and vital role as the one who would prepare the way for the Messiah — Jesus offers the highest praise for him. He doesn’t distance Himself from John in his moment of doubt—instead — He elevates him. Look at how Jesus speaks about John in verse 11. He says:

Matthew 11:11a (CSB)

11 “Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has appeared…

Think about what Jesus was saying: Of all the men who had ever lived—Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah—John the Baptist was greater than all of them!

Despite John's doubts, despite his struggles in prison, Jesus declared that no one who has ever lived holds a higher position in God's plan up to that point than John. Isn’t that amazing!!

And even more amazing — is what Jesus says next! — look back at verse 11 — Jesus says,

Matthew 11:11 (CSB)

11 …but the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

What!?!? What does Jesus mean by this? How could anyone—let alone the "least" in the kingdom—be greater than John, the very prophet appointed to prepare the way for Christ?

Think about this remarkable shift in perspective. Jesus is redefining greatness, not by human standards, but by the standards of God’s kingdom. John’s greatness was tied to his unique role in redemptive history—he stood at the critical point between the Old Covenant and the New. But those in the kingdom of heaven—even the least—are partakers of something John could only point toward: the fullness of salvation in Christ.

John could proclaim the coming of the Messiah, but we, as believers on this side of the cross, have seen the fulfillment of that promise. We know the power of the resurrection. We are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. We have direct access to the Father through Christ. The least in the kingdom of heaven enjoys a privilege that even John, as great as he was, did not fully experience.

So what does this mean for us today?

Well — It means that in God’s kingdom — true greatness isn’t about your position, your achievements, or your spiritual pedigree—it’s about your relationship to Jesus. Even the least of us, those who feel insignificant or unworthy, can be greater than the greatest of prophets because we are united to Christ.

D.A. Carson puts it like this:

"So often Christians want to establish their ‘greatness’ with reference to their work, their giving, their intelligence, their preaching, their gifts, their courage, their discernment. But Jesus unhesitatingly affirmed that even the least believer is greater than Moses or John the Baptist, simply because of his or her ability, living on this side of the coming of Jesus the Messiah, to point him out with greater clarity and understanding than all his forerunners ever could. If we really believe this truth, it will dissipate all cheap vying for position [in this world] and force us to recognize that our true significance lies [simply] in our witness to the Lord Jesus Christ." —D.A. Carson

You see — our greatness doesn’t lie in our status, achievements, or even our own righteousness. It lies in the privilege we have to proclaim Christ. And this is the same for all believers—from the most well-known to the least. If you are a follower of Jesus today, you have been given the opportunity to point to Him with even greater clarity than John the Baptist because you stand on this side of the cross, knowing the fullness of God’s redemptive plan through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Now — as we close, let’s remember: Our true greatness is found not in our accomplishments, but in our faithful witness to the One who is truly great—Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.

And it means something else: Our doubts and our struggles don’t define us—Jesus does. Just as John’s moment of doubt didn’t disqualify him from God’s plan, our moments of weakness don’t separate us from the Savior. Rather — they should drive us to our savior. Friends — Jesus defended and affirmed John, and He will do the same for us, even when we’re wrestling with uncertainty and doubt.

Brothers and sisters, the good news of the gospel is this: You don’t have to be perfect to be great in God’s kingdom. You only need to belong to Jesus. So — as we leave today — remember: Greatness is redefined in the kingdom of heaven. It’s not about how strong you are, how much you know, or even how confident your faith is. It’s about being in Christ, trusting Him, and living in the reality of His kingdom.

And if you feel like you're the least, take heart—Jesus says the least is greater than the greatest.

Lets Pray