Jesus Cares About Your Doubts

The intent of today’s message is to help us firmly understand that Jesus (the Son of GOD) cares about our doubts. And also, because Jesus doesn’t want us to live doubtful lives, he will provide us what we need to solidify our faith. Lastly, we will see the difference between doubt and rejection, which includes a warning against rejection and what type of people exhibit it.

Simply put, doubt is a mental process of becoming uncertain of the truth or reality of something. And because I’m uncertain, it causes me to ask a load of questions, in which I’m seeking for the right answer for assurance about something. This mental process isn’t foreign to anyone of the human race. Many times we have a lot of doubt in ourselves, so no wonder why we can have so many doubts about others. In today’s passage, we can immediately see that it reflects a mind that has grown doubtful. What’s even more striking is who it was that developed this doubt, and who he was having doubts about. It was John the Baptist who was having doubts about who Jesus was!! The same one he had witnessed and testified that he was the Christ, just roughly a year ago. But now he’s not as sure. Consider what’s driving his doubt: Unmet expectations regarding the Christ (Messiah); He’s in jail (Matthew tells us) which is heightening his doubt. Well what was the common expectation regarding the Messiah? During the period between what we’ve called the OT and NT, the common interpretation and thought of texts such as and is that the Messiah would be of great political and world power, who would overthrow all other kingdom’s and kings. He would be a prophet, king, and priest. When they considered the thought of salvation, it was vastly applied to the corrupt and wicked rule by gentile nations. This explains why in , after he fed thousands that they wanted to force him to be king. So, when John hears that Jesus is performing these unbelievable miracles, that’s all good but all the rest isn’t happening while I’m in this jail cell.

Messiah would be of great political and world power, who would overthrow all other kingdom’s and kings. He would be a prophet, king, and priest. When they considered the thought of salvatiion, it was vastly applied to the corrupt and wicked rule by gentile nations. This explains why in , after he fed thousands that they wanted to force him to be king. So, when John hears that Jesus is performing these unbelievable miracles, that’s all good but all the rest isn’t happening while I’m in this jail cell.

Application: The encouraging piece of these few verses is that I see that I’m not alone when I have doubts. We are uncertain of: tomorrow, my boss’s reaction, my ability to accomplish, if I should start a business, if my marriage is going to make it, if my kids are going to straighten up, if the Chiefs are going to make it to the superbowl… and that list keeps on going. Taking it a higher level, we sometimes are uncertain of: GOD’s approval, my forgiveness, my prayer’s being heard, the value of religion, entering heaven, sufficiency of Christ, the sincerity of my praise/worship, am I doing enough… If we were honest, these points of doubt have and some times trouble our minds. Again, notice that what’s driving John’s doubt is unmet expectations… There are indeed other possible drivers for doubting, but this is a big one. When life isn’t going the way we expected it to after coming to know Jesus, there are all sorts of doubts that enter our minds, ultimately about GOD, Jesus, and their purpose. Thus one thing we all must confirm is what are my expectations. The next thing we should do is pray and study! Why? Because the certainty that we’re looking for always resides with the Lord. And when we do so, BE SPECIFIC!

When Jesus hears John’s request, he immediately responded with merciful action toward the crowd around him. What’s interesting is that each category of people were destitute, deprived, or without the health of some aspect of their lives, which made life extremely difficult. He sent a reply to John affirming that the lives of people are being completely healed and converted. And simply says that whoever, including John, doesn’t stumble at Jesus and all that he’s doing, is greatly blessed. What Jesus just did was provide concrete information and evidence of who he is, his purpose, and his power. He didn’t miraculously remove John (his own cousin) from the prison, although he could have. In fact what he just did and said still didn’t fit the common thought about the Messiah.

Application: We would do well to see how Christ operates with us out of care. Realize that Christ’ reply even won’t always be what you expect. The question we have to ask and answer to ourselves is are we willing to accept GOD’s reply. Also important is that Jesus will not always remove the chains or whatever has you boxed in! After all, if it were not for what seems to be a jail cell, and sometimes a hell cell, I might not have had this doubt that led me to call on Jesus so strongly! So Jesus might not remove the confinement, but Jesus doesn’t want us to remain doubtful. Hence why we have all that we have written as what… evidence!!! Notice, John was in prison, he didn’t witness all that Jesus was doing, he heard it from witnesses!!! Again, Jesus’ aim is to solidify our faith, which is certainty. No wonder he’d be this concerned to address doubters. But it’s up to us to accept and believe.

What happens next extends the point that Jesus cares about those who might be carrying around doubts of who they are and what they’ve accepted and become. Jesus stems from the doubt that John the Baptist had just showed, and asks the crowd what did you expect in John!! Again because our expectations will drive our mental response if they are or aren’t met. Were you expecting a regular old day by the river to see the reeds blowing back and forth? Nah, John was in no ways a vacillating man, but he stood with conviction when he preached. Did you expect to see someone splendidly dressed, keeping with the latest fashion, a large closet. Nah, John lived in the wilderness, people like that live in royal palaces. If you were expecting to see and hear a spokesman of GOD, you got it right! But even more than that, because his purpose was to prepare the way for the Lord! Therefore, don’t allow the fact that others have criticized your listening to and following John to disturb your faith. His mission fulfilled scripture. But although John is great among humans, the least in the Kingdom that he and I have preached, is greater.

Application: This obviously was something the crowd needed to hear because they immediately praise GOD and his righteousness. Apparently because of the criticism that has come from others. Sometimes the source of our doubt is because of the loud thoughts and opinions from others overpowering the truth we already know. But hearing the truth again and again will empower us to break free from the chains of ignorant criticisms and opinions serving self and satan, and praise GOD for his righteous plan.

It’s interesting, that also included in this crowd are not just those who have some doubts, but those who have rejected GOD’s purpose for themselves. Doubt is the uncertaintity of the truth, which usually leads one to search for what the truth is. The term here for reject is to nullify or to treat as if invalid. In other words, they treated John and Jesus as if they weren’t even speaking their language loud enough. But the reality is they have treated GOD and his plan of salvation this way.

Application: While Jesus cares about those who doubt, we must be careful not to allow chronic doubting to lead to a rejection of GOD’s plan for us. How do we avoid rejection? Learn from the bad example of the Pharisees and lawyers.

Based on the fact that they had rejected GOD’s purpose, specifically in not being baptized by John, Jesus gives a quick parable to describe the people of that generation (really the Pharisees and lawyers). What does describe them as or compare them to? Children!!! Children playing games at that. Jesus describes two common activities Jewish kids would engage in, playing a flute most often at a wedding. But their complaint is that no one danced. Well the others call out and say, we sang a funeral song and you never shed a tear. This short parable described their childish ways in complaining and never being content. Jesus gives the explanation of what he means: John came in one manner preaching the truth - in self-denial of food and wine - and they rejected him concluding that he had a demon in him; Jesus came in another manner preaching the truth - eating and drinking wine - and they rejected him concluding that he was only a man, a man of excess, who drank too much wine, and far too social with unapproved and sinful people. Neither extreme of their manner of life could please them.

Application: For people who reject GOD, it doesn’t matter the person or manner in which a person speaks the truth, they will never be satisfied. Just like children playing that are never content with what they’re given. Again, doubt is matter of the mind that is thinking and considering things. Rejection is a matter of the will, what one is willing to accept. We must be careful of never being satisfied, because it is a big sign of unbelief. It is the same attitude that Israel had in the wilderness, and it prevents many today from being obedient. People who seemingly have an issue with everything have already shown a resolved mind of unbelief and rejection toward GOD.

But for those who are sometimes uncertain of what GOD is doing, and life not going as expected, GOD cares for your trouble and wants to continue providing you evidence that you can solidify your faith!