| “And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, asking, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” – Luke 7:19 |
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| Difficulties Raise Doubts The very best of the followers of Jesus can go through incredibly difficult times and as those difficulties mount so do the possibilities of doubt mounting. John the Baptist was one of the very best. He was the forerunner to the Messiah and in John 1:29 he made the announcement of announcements when he “saw Jesus coming toward him,” he boldly and clearly PROCLAIMED “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” However, as John did his assigned ministry, he found himself in jail with a pending execution soon to come because he had made it clear to King Herod that “It was not lawful for him to have his brother’s wife.” The woman was named Herodias. Herodias was furious that the prophet of God had pointed out their sin and she wanted John the Baptist executed. YIKES!!! Sitting in jail John the Baptist begins to have doubts. He begins to have doubts about Jesus and whether Jesus was really who he had proclaimed Jesus to be. He calls his disciples to go and ask Jesus “Are You the Coming One or (fastening your seatbelts) OR do we look for another?” DOUBLE YIKES!!!! The difficulty that John found himself in raised a huge doubt about WHO JESUS WAS. John the Baptist is doubting. He is unsure. One of the best now has on his resume that he DOUBTED. I will go one more step. That he QUESTIONED what he believed. Have you ever doubted since you got saved? Have you ever doubted that God has your best interest in mind? Have you questioned what you believe? Have you ever talked with someone who is in the dungeon of doubt? I am thinking the answer to both my above questions is yes. I can tell you that my answer to both is yes. To DATE Luke 7:19 is to know that John the Baptist was honest with his thoughts, and his doubts. In the dungeon of doubt, he sent word to JESUS. Don’t miss that. Please don’t miss this. He sent word to Jesus that he was having doubts. To DATE Luke 7:19 is to also know how Jesus responded. Notice Luke 7:20-23 “When the men had come to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” 21 And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight. 22 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. 23 “And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” How did Jesus respond? With a scathing rebuke? No With profound disappointment? No. He answered John’s doubts with Scripture. Don’t miss this! I say He answered with Scripture because what Jesus told John’s disciples to tell John was that the prophesied ministry of the Messiah was being fulfilled. In other words, He answered John’s question with YES, I am the coming one and NO, you do not need to look for another one. Difficulties have the very real potential to raise DOUBT. You may have them. Family and friends and those in your fellowship may have them. When you or they have them remember John the Baptist. And remember how he took his doubts to Jesus and remember how Jesus responded by pointing John to the Scriptures. Why the Scriptures? Because faith quenches doubts! Remember Romans 10:17. It says, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Verse to DATE the Word on July 19 (7/19) is Luke 7:19 and it says, “And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, asking, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” Be honest as doubt mounts. Bring the questions to Jesus. Continue Strong taking all doubts to Jesus, And remember to DATE the Word BTW – Drown your doubts by soaking yourself in the Scriptures. |