John’s Bout With Doubt

Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities. And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” – Matthew 11:1-6

Do you have any bouts with doubt? Perhaps you wonder if God really has forgiven you? Is there an eternal Heaven awaiting you? Can the reliability of the Bible be trusted? Can God be trusted? Even, is Jesus really the Son of God? Great men of faith like the twentieth century Christian apologist C.S. Lewis once wrote, “Now that I am a Christian I do have moods in which the whole thing looks very improbable; but when I was an atheist I had moods in which Christianity looked terribly probable.”

In the Bible there were giants of faith who struggled with times of doubt. Abraham once struggled with God’s promise of a son through his barren wife Sarah. “Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” (Gen. 17:17). Also, his wife Sarah had her doubts. “Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, ‘After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?’” (Gen. 18:12). When God commissioned Moses to go to Pharaoh and ask him to let God’s people God, he respond with his doubts. God said, “‘come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.’ But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?’” (Exodus 3:10,11). Finally, in our text there is John the Baptist who had some doubts about if Jesus were the Messiah.

“And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’” (Matthew 11:2-3). John is basically asking if Jesus is the Messiah. The “Coming One” is found in Psalms 40:7; 118:26. Doubt does seem out of place for the forerunner of the Messiah. Was he not inspired of God? Did he not witness the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus in the form of a dove at His baptism. Did he not hear the voice from heaven?

To have doubt even about Jesus being the Christ is not the same as disbelief. Oswald Changers wrote, “Doubt is not always a sign that man is wrong; it may be a sign that he is thinking” and searching for evidence upon which to base his faith.

How did John deal with his doubts? He asked the right Person, Jesus, for help. He remained faithful to the belief that God would send the Messiah of prophecy. He continued to look for the Messiah.

There are several reasons why John was struggling at this time. First, John was in prison. He was innocent. He only justly condemned the sinful marriage between King Antipas and Herodias. According to Josephus, John was in the fortress of Machaerus (Antiquities 18.5.2). John was a man who was used to preaching God’s Word in the wilderness. Now he is silenced and shut up in a prison. He went from the limelight to the dark dungeon.

Second, John was a man who even though inspired was subject to doubts and discouragements. After all he came in the power and spirit of Elijah and that great prophet of old was discouraged and doubtful. This was even after his great victory over the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel.

Third, John was confused with regard to what Jesus was doing and what he expected Jesus to do. John had prophesied the Messiah would have a winnowing fan in is hand and would bring judgment when “He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Matt 3:12). From John’s limited viewpoint, it would seem Jesus was not fulfilling the Old Testament prophecies. Where is the fiery Judgment against the wicked? John is in prison for standing up to Herod Antipas’ ungodly marriage and Jesus was just healing the sick and preaching to the poor. Many confused the Kingship and Kingdom of Jesus with a worldly political/militaristic movement to raise an army and overthrow the Romans. They also considered the welfare system where all their needs would be taken care of and no poverty and sickness would exist.

Next, John had limited knowledge of the mission of Jesus. Yes, he was inspired but that did not mean he knew every aspect of God’s plan. Perhaps, John thought for sure Jesus would have procured his release from prison. After all, would not the Messiah come and bring justice.
John’s is disappointed and disillusioned, and this has led to doubt. He may have the feeling that his execution is near. Yet Jesus has not made some kind of open proclamation to claim the throne of David and challenge the Romans. Jesus is going to help him overcome this.

Jesus’ Evidence for John

Jesus was to give John evidence or proof of His Messiahship. This was perhaps not the only time John was giving evidence. The King James translates verse four as “Go show John AGAIN …” Several things are mentioned as evidenced. But notice how Jesus never seems to give a simple “yes” or “no” to enquires.

• Proof From Jesus

John may have been receiving reports about Jesus’ ministry. However, he needed to send his own trustworthy disciples to tell him what was going on.

• Preaching of Jesus

The disciples of John were to go and tell John the things they heard (11:4). Jesus was preaching the Kingdom of Heaven was near or close by. It was not just what Jesus was preaching but to whom He preached: “the poor have the gospel preached to them” (11:5b).

• Power of Jesus

The disciples of John were also to bear witness to what they saw Jesus doing: “The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them” (11:5). The miracles Jesus performed were proof that Jesus was sent and commission by the Father (John 5:36; 14:11; 20:30,31).

• Prophecy Fulfilled by Jesus

Jesus’ statement in verse five is an allusion to Isaiah 61:1-2a: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord” (Also see Isaiah 29:18-19; 35:5-6).

Jesus’ Encouragement of John

Notice Jesus does not condemn John for his doubts or rebuke him for his “little faith”. John was in need of information for conformation not condemnation. Instead, Jesus encourages him with a beatitude: “And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me” (11:6). The Greek term for “offended” is skanddalis the meaning to cause one to be trapped or trip and fall. We derive the English word “scandalized” from it. God does not want to cause anyone to stumble over the Messiah or His Kingdom. However, many still do today. They reject the church, the blood, the cross, etc.

In verses seven through fifteen of Matthew eleven, Jesus takes time out to give is high estimate of His cousin John. He may have had his doubts for the moment, but it did not diminish Jesus’ view of John. To deal with his doubt John sought out the evidence he needs to increase his faith. This was needed especially during a time of being persecuted by Herod.

– Daniel R. Vess