Even the Greatest Has Questions - July 27th, 2025

Sermon Title: Even the Greatest Questions Text: Luke 7:18‑23 (KJV) Central Idea of the Text (CIT): In the face of John’s prison‑born questions, Jesus graciously reaffirms His Messiahship through unmistakable works and a gentle word of blessing. Proposition: When believers wrestle with doubt, Christ invites us to rehearse what He is doing and rest in who He is. Purpose: To encourage discouraged saints to bring their questions to Jesus and anchor their faith in His revealed works and Word.

Introduction

Luke 7:18–23 KJV

18 And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things. 19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? 20 When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? 21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight. 22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. 23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

Hook. Even spiritual giants occasionally stagger. John the Baptist—once thunderous in the wilderness—now sits behind stone walls and wonders, “Art Thou He that should come?”

Throughout the Gospels, we read that the disciples consistently had doubts and expressed a lack of faith in Jesus. The father of a demon-possessed child possessed this same kind of doubt.

Mark 9:24 KJV

24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

But John the Baptist, while in prison, must have begun to doubt who Jesus really was. Even though Jesus called John the greatest Christian who had lived, John was a man and doubted.

Matthew 11:11 KJV

11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

John the Baptist was arrested by Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee and Perea. Herod had taken his half-brother’s wife, Herodias, to be his wife unlawfully. John preached against Herod’s sin, and Herod arrested him and placed him in prison (see Lk. 3:19-20).

At this point, John probably would have been in the prison for about seven months, expecting at any moment to be violently executed. Yet Herod did nothing, even allowing John’s disciples to visit him. John’s disciples kept him informed of Jesus’ ministry. It must have been difficult for John, who was accustomed to life in the wilderness, to be confined to a prison. The Jewish leaders did nothing to help John, and it seemed that Jesus was not interceding for him either.

Perhaps after preaching of the coming kingdom, John expected certain events to happen, but they did not take place. Maybe this was why John began to question if Jesus was truly the Messiah.

Equipped with this background of the passage, we will learn why John asked his disciples to go to Jesus with the following two questions:

1. Art thou He that should come?

2. Or look we for another?

Bridge. If a prophet praised by Christ Himself could falter, ordinary disciples surely will. Luke 7:18‑23 records how the Lord answers the greatest doubts.

Preview. Three movements mark the passage: (1) the messenger’s crisis, (2) the Master’s confirmation, (3) the mindset Christ commends.

I. The Messenger’s Crisis (vv. 18‑19)

A. Distressing circumstances

Luke 7:18 KJV

18 And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things.

John is confined (Herod’s fortress, cf. Lk 3:19‑20).

Definition: Shewed, from Greek apaggello—meaning to bring tidings (from a person or thing), bring word, report.

John had heard the Father testify of Jesus’ deity at Jesus’ baptism. To his credit, John sent his followers to Jesus to express his doubt, meaning he did have faith in Christ.

Luke 3:19–20 KJV

19 But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, 20 Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.

Isolation gives his mind time to replay unmet expectations of the kingdom.

Some years ago, a survey caught my attention revealing a troubling reality among pastors in North America: nearly one-third of seminary graduates were leaving their ministries within five years. Initially, researchers attributed this to sheer pastoral fatigue—overwhelming schedules, financial pressures, declining congregations, and increasing ministry demands. It was easy to sympathize with pastors struggling under the heavy burdens of ministry.

But later research showed fatigue alone wasn't the primary issue. Rather, it was the emotional burden pastors carried, what some called "heartloads." The real damage came from feeling deeply unappreciated, misunderstood, and even blamed for problems outside their control. This resonates powerfully with the experience of Moses in the wilderness, as he not only carried the burdens of leadership but faced continual accusation from those he sought to help. Moses, exhausted by decades of wandering and persistent criticism, found his heart strained more by resentment than by fatigue alone.

I must admit, I've felt that same burden. There have been times in ministry when I've wrestled with discouragement, not primarily due to workload, but because of feeling misunderstood or unfairly criticized. Like many others, I've experienced moments where my heart whispered, “How dare they?” I've learned firsthand that while exhaustion might drain my energy, it is the sense of isolation or being undervalued that truly tests my calling.

This is precisely where we find John the Baptist in Luke 7—isolated, imprisoned, and wrestling with expectations unmet. His moment of doubt was not merely intellectual, but deeply personal, born out of challenging circumstances and perhaps a feeling of abandonment.

Let’s turn now and see how Jesus graciously ministers to John—and to us—in these critical moments of doubt. (Adapted from Bryan Chappell).

B. Honest inquiry

Luke 7:19 KJV

19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

“Art Thou He that should come? or look we for another?”

John was a man of action, and knew he was the forerunner of Christ. But while in prison, he was idle and had time to think. He likely began to look at his circumstances from a point of human reasoning, rather than from a point of faith in God.

Quote: “Doubt has been a familiar feeling for even some of the greatest Christians. Charles Spurgeon expressed his own doubts in the following way: “Some of us who have preached the Word for years, and have been the means of working faith in others and of establishing them in the knowledge of the fundamental doctrines of the Bible, have nevertheless been the subjects of the most fearful and violent doubts as to the truth of the very gospel we have preached.” —C.H. Spurgeon

Quote: “Christ never failed to distinguish between doubt and unbelief. Doubt is can’t believe. Unbelief is won’t believe. Doubt is honesty. Unbelief is obstinacy. Doubt is looking for light. Unbelief is content with darkness.” —Henry Drummond

When John said “He who should come” in verse 19, he was referring to the long-anticipated Messiah. Jesus was, in fact, the Messiah, and often taught from prophecies about Himself.

Application: Doubt is not unbelief; it signals a faith under pressure seeking fresh assurance (cf. Mk 9:24).

II. The Master’s Confirmation (vv. 20‑22)

A. Visible proofs—works that match prophecy

Luke 7:20–21 KJV

20 When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? 21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.

John’s disciples came to Jesus to ask John’s questions. Jesus never rebuked John for having a moment of doubt, but instead gave John’s disciples evidence of His Messianic authority.

JESUS DISPLAYS HIS DEITY (v. 21)

Definition: Infirmities, from Greek nosos—meaning disease, sickness.

Definition: Plagues, from Greek mastix, meaning metaphorically a scourge, plague.

Jesus performed miracles that verified His fulfillment of the Messianic prophecies throughout the Old Testament.

Mark 3:10 KJV

10 For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.

Sight restored – “the blind see”

Strength renewed – “the lame walk”

Stains removed – “the lepers are cleansed”

Silence broken – “the deaf hear”

Separation reversed – “the dead are raised”

Salvation announced – “to the poor the gospel is preached” (echoes Isa 29:18‑19; 35:5‑6; 61:1)

Isaiah 29:18–19 KJV

18 And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness. 19 The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 35:5–6 KJV

5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

Isaiah 61:1 KJV

1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

Illustration: Robert Evans, 6 Tricks I Learned as a Faith Healer (for Scamming You)

"Robert Evans, a former faith healer, described exactly how fraudulent healing ministries deceive vulnerable people. He writes, 'The first woman I "healed" simply had a cold. She exaggerated her illness, and when we laid hands on her and dramatically prayed, she fell to the ground—seemingly cured. My pastor saw potential in me and soon taught me the craft of deception. We targeted people likely to recover on their own, taking credit for natural healing.'

Evans explained how deception extended even further: 'We carefully screened who came on stage, often planting actors pretending to be disabled. One man was given a fake backstory of being hit by a drunk driver; I dumped him from a wheelchair, shouted for him to walk, and he miraculously stood up. Another time, we hired a homeless man to pretend he was lame. He discarded his cane and ran on stage to thunderous applause. We even staged "psychic surgeries," pulling chicken parts mixed with fake blood out from beneath tables, pretending to remove tumors and demonic influences. Donations poured in, but it was all a shameful act, preying on people's desperation.'"

(Adapted from Robert Evans, "6 Tricks I Learned as a Faith Healer (for Scamming You)," Cracked.com.) https://www.cracked.com/personal-experiences-1454-6-tricks-i-learned-as-faith-healer-for-scamming-you.html

B. Verbal prescription—“Go your way, and tell John…”

Jesus anchors assurance in objective evidence, not mere emotion.

Luke 24:44 KJV

44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

Pastoral note: Help doubters rehearse God’s deeds (Ps 77:11‑12).

III. The Mindset Christ Commends (v. 23)

Luke 7:23 KJV

23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

A. Beatitude for the un-offended

“Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me.”

Offended (Gk. skandalizō): to trip over a stumbling‑block.

When God’s methods differ from our expectations, faith chooses not to stumble.

Illustration: Misunderstanding Doubt

Some faithful Bible teachers, like Dr. John R. Rice, prefer not to describe John the Baptist's question as "doubt," out of deep respect for his character and prophetic role. Indeed, John’s spiritual legacy remains unquestionably strong.

Yet, Webster's dictionary helps us clarify what we mean here. To "doubt," intransitively, means "to waver or fluctuate in opinion; to hesitate; to be in suspense or uncertainty." It's not an active rejection of truth (transitive doubt: actively withholding belief), but an inward struggle—an uncertainty due to limited evidence or difficult circumstances.

In this sense, John the Baptist did doubt—not by rejecting Jesus, but by momentarily wavering in uncertainty due to intense suffering and unmet expectations. He didn't doubt Jesus' character or integrity. Instead, isolated and imprisoned, he wrestled internally, genuinely unsure, asking humbly, "Art thou He that should come, or look we for another?" (Luke 7:19).

To doubt, in this honest, inward sense, is not sinful unbelief—it's a part of the human condition when we grapple with limited perspective and painful experiences. Christ’s response shows compassion for this honest uncertainty, providing John the clear evidence and reassurance he needed to stabilize his wavering faith.

Thus, while respecting the perspective of godly teachers like Dr. Rice, we recognize that John experienced what we might describe, biblically and respectfully, as intransitive doubt: genuine, temporary uncertainty—not active, stubborn disbelief.

B. Invitation to steadfast trust

Henry Drummond powerfully contrasts Christ’s gracious approach to doubt with the harsh attitude too often taken by the church. Historically, the church's reaction to doubt was tragically severe: "Burn the heretic!" Today, we may not physically burn doubters, but often we brand them, marginalizing or dismissing those whose faith is shaken by hard questions.

Yet, how differently Jesus treated those who doubted! Consider Thomas after the resurrection. Thomas stood face-to-face with Jesus, doubting the reality of His resurrection, waiting perhaps for a harsh rebuke—but it never came. Instead, Christ offered evidence: “Reach hither thy finger... and behold my hands” (John 20:27). Rather than scolding Thomas, Jesus patiently presented him with facts, undeniable truths that called for faith grounded in reality.

Drummond reminds us that Jesus consistently distinguished between doubt and unbelief: Doubt says, "I can't believe," while unbelief insists, "I won't believe." Doubt genuinely seeks clarity; unbelief stubbornly remains in darkness. Christ challenged the darkness of willful unbelief, but He compassionately welcomed honest seekers, those earnestly wrestling with life's toughest questions—men like Thomas, Philip, and Nicodemus. His solution for doubt was never condemnation; it was education—patient, tender, truth-filled instruction.

Jesus calls each doubting heart not to stumble in offense but to see Him clearly. His message today remains unchanged: He meets our doubts not with rejection, but with facts. He invites us again, as He did John, to carefully consider what He has done and who He is. When our expectations falter, and our hearts tremble with uncertainty, Christ gently reassures us, "Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me" (Luke 7:23).

(Adapted from Diana Wallis, Take Heart: Daily Devotions with the Church’s Great Preachers, featuring insights by Henry Drummond [Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2001]; and Warren W. Wiersbe, Classic Sermons on Faith and Doubt [Kregel, 1991].)

Quote: “There is a difference between doubt and unbelief. Doubt is a matter of the mind: we cannot understand what God is doing or why He is doing it. Unbelief is a matter of the will: we refuse to believe God’s Word and obey what He tells us to do.” —Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: New Testament

1 Corinthians 1:23–24 KJV

23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Principle: The path from (intransitive) doubt to blessing runs through continued confidence in Christ’s person and program.

Conclusion

John’s question was carried back with more than an answer—it returned with a fresh vision of Jesus’ power and a promise of blessing. Call. Bring your questions to the Lord. Count His works. Cling to His Word. The crucified‑risen King still turns our greatest doubts into deeper devotion.

(Outline adapted from Paul Chappell, “Jesus and John the Baptist,” Journey with Jesus, Outline 29; Striving Together Publications (Lancaster, CA), pp. 191‑196)