Matthew 11:1-3

Many people are afraid or embarrassed to admit that they have doubts about their worldview, so they might be encouraged to know that even John the Baptist had to work through some of his doubts.

Matthew 11:1-3
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2011:1-3&version=ESV

The birth of John the Baptist was foretold by an angel. We are told in Luke 1:13 that an angel told John’s father Zechariah, “. . . your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.” At the birth of his son, Zechariah prophesied, “And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins” (Luke 1:76-77).

As John the Baptist grew into adulthood and began his ministry, he traveled all around the Jordan telling people to repent and be baptized. In fact, people began to wonder if John was the Messiah, to which he replied, “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie…” (Luke 3:15-16). John the Baptist, of course, was referring to Jesus.

Then in Matthew 3 we are told that Jesus came to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. Naturally, John felt unworthy and said, “Jesus, I need to be baptized by you.” But Jesus insisted and so John baptized Him. The Scriptures say, “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’”

This is all important background information for you to appreciate the moment in John’s life when he experienced doubt about Jesus. John the Baptist actually experienced a crisis of belief after being thrown into prison by Herod. While in prison, John summoned his friends and asked them to go to Jesus and ask Him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Matthew 11:2-3).

Can you appreciate the gravity of this moment? John the Baptist, the man who baptized Jesus, was looking for reassurance that Jesus was who He said He was. Maybe John wondered why Jesus didn’t come to his rescue and free him from jail. We don’t know for sure, but we do know that John was later beheaded on orders from Herod. Upon hearing of John’s death Jesus said, “I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist…” (Matthew 11:11).

Isn’t it interesting that Jesus did not condemn John the Baptist for having questions? Likewise, God does not condemn you if you have unresolved questions about your worldview. He simply wants you to discover who He really is. Be honest and acknowledge your doubts. Go to God for answers and ask Him to help you discover what is true.

“If faith never encounters doubt, if truth never struggles with error, if good never battles with evil, how can faith know its own power? In my own pilgrimage, if I have to choose between a faith that has stared doubt in the eye and made it blink, or a naïve faith that has never known the firing line of doubt, I will choose the former every time.” Gary Parker as quoted by Lee Strobel in The Case for Faith.