The Love of Jesus is Bigger Than Our Doubts

There are a lot of reasons why we might have questions or doubts about God.

Sometimes we start asking questions because we're learning and growing.

Those questions you're asking might be an important and necessary part of learning to think critically!

But sometimes doubts can form when we experience something painful or confusing.

When you start asking tough questions about God or what you believe, it can feel pretty heavy and overwhelming.

You might not know . . .

What you believe.

What you don't believe.

Where to go with your questions.

What your questions even are.

I get it! Seriously.

I love Jesus, but I have had questions. I mean, Easter is about Jesus rising from the dead.

How does that happen? How does someone just stop being dead?

Are we sure it happened? What if it didn’t?

And if it did happen, so what? What does it have to do with my life today?

Well, it turns out I’m not the only one with questions like these. (And if you've asked questions like these, you're not alone either.)

Scripture: John 18:17-18

Sometimes I think, "If only I could have lived at the same time Jesus did! If I could have seen Him with my own eyes, I wouldn't have a single question or doubt. Everything would make sense." But even Jesus' followers who saw Him every single day had doubts and questions — especially around the time of Jesus' death.

Oh — spoiler alert. In case you haven't heard, Jesus dies on Good Friday. He is betrayed by one of His closest friends, imprisoned, beaten, and executed because of His teachings.

Although the Easter story is now a story we celebrate every year, while the story was unfolding, everything would have seemed like it was falling apart. Jesus' followers at the time were filled with questions, doubts, and fears.

It started when Judas, one of Jesus' followers, betrayed Him.

Did Judas not trust Jesus was who He said He was?

Did he believe but just not care?

We don't know, but we know he turned his back on Jesus.

Then, after Jesus was arrested, one of His closest friends and followers panicked and denied he even knew Jesus.

John 18:15–18 CSB

15 Simon Peter was following Jesus, as was another disciple. That disciple was an acquaintance of the high priest; so he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard. 16 But Peter remained standing outside by the door. So the other disciple, the one known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the girl who was the doorkeeper and brought Peter in. 17 Then the servant girl who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” “I am not,” he said. 18 Now the servants and the officials had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold. They were standing there warming themselves, and Peter was standing with them, warming himself.

I can't really blame Peter, though. He was juggling a lot, including his own pain and fears.

Had he been wrong about Jesus the whole time?

Had he misunderstood?

If Jesus was who He said He was, why would God let this happen?

Imagine spending years of your life as a disciple of Jesus, living every day in His presence. You'd get to eat with Him, travel with Him, hear Him teach, and even witness miracles.

That's what Peter and the other disciples had experienced, which is why it was so confusing when Jesus was arrested.

Everyone expected Jesus to be their Messiah, Savior, and King. But suddenly, things had changed.Like Peter, sometimes we fear we've been wrong about Jesus.

Scripture: John 20:1-10

Soon after Peter's denial,

Jesus was beaten,

tortured,

and killed.

His death was public, humiliating, and painful.

If there was ever a time for His disciples to doubt Him, it was then. Let's see what happened next.

John 20:1–10 CSB

1 On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark. She saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2 So she went running to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said to them, “They’ve taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they’ve put him!” 3 At that, Peter and the other disciple went out, heading for the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and got to the tomb first. 5 Stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then, following him, Simon Peter also came. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. 7 The wrapping that had been on his head was not lying with the linen cloths but was folded up in a separate place by itself. 8 The other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, then also went in, saw, and believed. 9 For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples returned to the place where they were staying.

Imagine Mary's confusion when she walked up to the tomb. Jesus' body was not there!

Was it stolen?

Was this a trick?

This was even more painful than just knowing He was dead.

Like some of the disciples, sometimes we struggle to believe the good news of Jesus, even when we see the evidence right in front of us.

Scripture: John 20:24-29

As more of Jesus' followers began to believe the good news that He really was alive, word started to spread — but not everyone was ready to believe.

John 20:24–29 CSB

24 But Thomas (called “Twin”), one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples were telling him, “We’ve seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “If I don’t see the mark of the nails in his hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe.” 26 A week later his disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Don’t be faithless, but believe.” 28 Thomas responded to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

Like Thomas, sometimes it's difficult for us to trust Jesus is who He says He is until we have more evidence.

And that’s ok! Even God’s Word tells us that we should count the cost first!

WHEN OUR DOUBTS FEEL BIG

In John 20:9, we read that the disciples, at first, did not understand.

John 20:9 CSB

9 For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he must rise from the dead.

Can you relate?

Do you ever feel like you don't understand either?

Peter, Mary, Thomas, and the other disciples had been with Jesus for years, but even they were overwhelmed by doubt, questions, and fears when things got difficult.

So maybe doubt is more common than we might imagine. When it was most difficult to believe, Jesus' followers likely wondered, "God, what am I supposed to do?

What's true? Are You with me?"

But then, while they were still doubting, questioning, and full of fear, Jesus showed up!

No matter how big their doubts seemed, Jesus' love for them was bigger. Because He loved them so much, Jesus met them in the midst of their doubts.

No doubt, or heartache could hold Jesus back from them, and it won't hold back the full love He has for you either.

Scripture: Romans 8:31-39

When Jesus died, even His closest friends and followers had questions, fears, and doubts. But Jesus wasn’t offended by, or angry about, those questions.

Instead, Jesus patiently and lovingly helped His friends believe the good news that He really was alive, and that, because of His death and resurrection, nothing (not even death) could separate them from God’s love — not ever.

Romans 8:31–39 CSB

31 What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything? 33 Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. 34 Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. 35 Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

When we're confused, questioning, or doubting, the resurrection of Jesus is proof that God is with us and loves us.

If Jesus can't be defeated by death, He absolutely won't be defeated by our doubts! Because the love of Jesus is bigger than our doubts.