Read Matthew 11: 1 - 19
John the Baptist ... the one who was the forerunner for the Christ ... the one who "leaped in his mother's womb" when Mary, pregnant with Jesus, came to see John's mother, Elizabeth. (Luke 1:41) ... the one who baptized Jesus and saw the dove from heaven alight upon him and heard the voice from heaven announce, 'This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.' (Matthew 3:13 - 17) ... the one who announced to the crowds "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1: 29). This same John is the one who sent disciples to Jesus in our passage today to ask if he really was the one that John had thought he was. What has happened? Was John the one who began to doubt that Jesus was the Messiah - or was it his disciples who had begun to doubt? And what was the source of the doubting?
It is not difficult to understand what has happened. We read in verse 2 that John was in prison. Read Matthew 14: 3 - 5 to learn why John was in prison. So John's life is not working out very well. He knew the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah coming to "set the captives free". - but he was not being set free. Do you think perhaps he began to wonder, "But what about me?"
It is such a natural response and one that we all know well. We pray for the healing of one we love ... and the loved one dies. We cry out to God for a circumstance to be changed ... and it is not. We read of the miracles, the wonder of Jesus in scripture ... we read the promises connected with prayer ... and we begin to question, "But what about me?"
So even John (or his disciples) began to doubt when life became so difficult - when there seemed to be no relief or resolution in sight - when he just couldn't understand what was happening to him - and he asks, "Are you really the one?"
Jesus' response was gentle and affirming.
What can we learn? First, it is not only OK, it is best, to take our doubts to the Lord Himself. And it is OK to voice them - the questions, the misunderstandings, the confusions. That is the absolute best place to voice them ... out loud when necessary. Speak them to the Lord.
Secondly, we learn that following Christ is no guarantee of an easy life on this earth. It is the best life ... but not the easiest life. John was faithful ... John did what God had prepared for him to do ... John was righteous ... and John was in prison and we learn in Matthew 14 that he is executed.
Why do we expect ease when we follow Christ? Why do we think we deserve an easy life if we accept Christ? We must continually remember that "this world is not our home". We are in enemy territory. Some days and seasons will be easy ... and some will be terribly difficult. The bottom line is faithfulness. John was. Will I be? Will you?
Jesus says of John, "I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist." That is high commendation from the Lord himself. John's life was a success ... in all the ways that matter.
The bottom line is faithfulness. Are you in a hard place right now? Are circumstances not as you wish they were? Take your concerns and hurts and confusions to the Lord. And stay faithful ...
Lord, I want to walk faithfully after you as did John. I want my life to matter in the important ways. Forgive me for whining about hard circumstances. Today I pray that I will stop any whining ... and walk through them with grace and dignity because I know Your Presence is walking with me. And I thank you ...
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