Introduction In the last several chapters Jesus has demonstrated His amazing power. Power over disease (8:1-7); power over nature (8:18-27); power over Satan (8:28-34); power over sin (9:1-17); power over death (9:18-26); power over darkness (9:27-31); power over demons (9:32-38); Jesus imparts power to His apostles and the campaign of evangelism begins throughout the region. But there is another dragon to slay! Jesus will deal with doubt. We know that the religious leaders have their doubts about Jesus. But now the doubt comes from an unexpected source; John the Baptist. What is the bright side of doubt? Francis Bacon wrote; If a man begins with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he begins with doubts, he shall end in certainties. The following statements are taken from official documents, newspapers and magazines widely read in their day. Listen to what the authorities had to say: 1840 Anyone traveling at the speed of thirty miles per hour would surely suffocate. 1878 Electric lights are unworthy of serious attention. 1901 No possible combination can be united into a practical machine by which men shall fly. 1926 (from a scientist) This foolish idea of shooting at the moon is basically impossible. 1930 (another scientist) To harness the energy locked up in matter is impossible. "I think there is a world market for maybe five computers." Thomas Watson, president of IBM, 1943 The King Departs To Preach (v.1) Matthew 11:1 (NKJV)1Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities. Everyone s favorite passage who struggles with kidney stones. After instructing the disciples Jesus sent them out. For a short time Jesus ministered alone. The cities mentioned in the passage are the cities in the region of the Galilee. The ministry of Jesus was to teach and preach. The miracles of Jesus were to authenticate that message. To preach means to proclaim and teach explain. Preaching carries with it the idea to exhort or encourage to do something. The synagogue was the normal preaching venue but it was not uncommon for itinerant preachers to find space at well travelled crossroads, market 1
places or homes. Philo the Jewish historian indicated the synagogue was the place to read and expound scriptures. Visiting rabbi s and scholars were always welcome to teach in the local synagogues, and Jesus availed Himself of that privilege many times (see Matt.4:23; 9:35; 12:9; Mark 6:2; Luke 6:6; John 18:20)(John MacArthur p. 238). The focus of that teaching included the spiritual nature of God s kingdom. This would lead to opposition and doubt. Messages often take two forms welcome and unwelcome! There is a tipping point in Matthew s gospel right here! The revelation of the King in chapters 1-10 will now become rebellion against the king (see Wiersbe s Outlines p. 45). In the next three chapters the Jews will rebel against every revelation that Jesus has given about Himself; Jesus was announced by John and John is allowed to be arrested (11:1-19); Jesus performed many miracles and the cities refused to repent (11:20-30); Jesus announced His principles and they argued with Him about them (12:1-21); he revealed His person and they said He worked with Satan (12:22-50). The rebellion will lead later to open rejection and Jesus will be arrested and crucified. The Messenger s Doubt (vv.2-3) 2And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples 3and said to Him, Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another? We know that John has been in prison for quite some time (see 4:12). Why is John the Baptist in prison? John has confronted Herod Antipas. What prompts the question? And what is the question? Are You the Coming One which clearly means God s Messiah! John the Baptist described the Messiah as the one who would come and burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire (Matt. 3:12). The earth is doomed. Judgment is inevitable. God will rule. The Messiah will destroy the enemies of God. But when? John is in prison. Jesus is in the Galilee healing people! When will the march on Jerusalem begin? When will the judgment begin? John was there at the baptism of Jesus. He heard the voice of the Father authenticating the identity of His Son! What is it that John doubts? The identity of Jesus? Or the agenda of Jesus? Clearly Jesus sees John as a person who is not easily blown in one direction or another simply based on persecution or hardship (see v.7). John manages to get a message to Jesus through two of his disciples. How are we to think about John s circumstances? Clearly Jesus knows about John s circumstances. Clearly Jesus considers John as the greatest human being (not Abraham, or Moses or Joshua or Elijah or David!). Does John waver or doubt? The word doubt refers to a lack of conviction, a reluctance to believe; or the inability to decide! Doubt begins when evidence seems to make some claim weaken or fall 2
apart! Doubt like uncertainty can make one indecisive, suspicious, perhaps even bring about some mental or emotional or relational paralysis! Os Guinness writes; Our English word doubt comes from the Latin dubitare which is rooted in an Aryan word meaning two...to believe is to be in one mind and accepting something as true; to disbelieve is to be in one mind about rejecting it. To doubt is waver between the two, to believe and disbelieve at once and so to be in two minds. John was arguably the greatest man of his day and did he experience some confusion some doubt some perplexity? How about you? Do you ever wonder why your life or your circumstance? Do you ever question your marriage or job or ministry? Are you ever confused or perplexed? Take comfort God knows God may understand your doubt and your confusion but do not deceive yourself into thinking that God is honored or pleased by doubt! There seems to be a great deal of people who celebrate doubt and reward ambiguity! Doubt suggests that God will either not make good on His promises, or suggests God doesn t know what He is doing! James warns us that the one who doubts is like the waves of the sea, tossed to and fro by the wind (James 1:6). Have you ever been in jail or prison for doing what is right? Perhaps it wasn t a physical prison with bars and locks and guards. Do you have doubts about Jesus and about God and the Bible and the gospel? Do you doubt God s love or God s goodness or God s judgment or God s sovereignty? Do you doubt God s will or God s intentions toward you? Doubt is like mold. It starts off small. Changes color. Spoils its host. Doubt can come from difficult circumstance, incomplete or inaccurate information, worldly influence, and unfulfilled expectations! Charles Darwin in describes his own descent into darkness; I gradually came to disbelieve in Christianity as a divine revelation...disbelief crept over me at a very slow rate, but was at last complete. The rate was so slow that I felt no distress. Doubt In Painful Tribulation John finds himself in painful tribulation for all the right reasons! John hasn t done something wrong he has done something right! People suffer for all kinds of reasons; not all of them noble. Have you served the Lord well and still suffered what you perceive to be tragedy or injustice? Has it caused you doubt God s love or the what Jesus is doing in your life? Do you dwell on your painful circumstances or the Lord? We are most vulnerable to doubt when we willfully pursue sin! We are vulnerable to doubt when we are weak, when we are in pain or experience fatigue. When are we most vulnerable? 3
John has the good sense to at least go the source! I think it s interesting that when John asks the question; are you the one he doesn t add then get me out of here! Doubt With Partial Information John the Baptist had special revelation but an incomplete revelation. He was in the same position that other OT prophets found themselves with a complete message but an incomplete picture of God s entire plan. Do we have the complete gospel? Yes. Do we have a complete picture of how to be saved? Yes. Do we have a complete picture of God s plan and God s will for our lives or must we learn to walk by faith with God in Christ? We know in part (1Corinthians 13:9). We do not know what we shall be but we know that when He appears we will be like Him (1 John 3:1-2). What information do you have? The Christian who commits to studying and knowing God s Word and God s will will find himself or herself equipped to face the onslaught of inaccurate or incomplete information. When God is allowed to speak through His Word, doubt vanishes like mist in the sunlight (John MacArthur p. 242). The Word of God is our most effective weapon in our war against doubt. The Bible says that the Berean s were noble minded and received the word with great eagerness because they examined the Scriptures daily, to see whether Paul s words were true. Paul s advice to the Berean s was to trust but verify! Healthy doubt questions man s wisdom. Healthy doubt sends us back to God s Word. God s Word dispels sinful doubts. Doubt With People s Expectation John shared a common messianic expectation with many of the Jews in his generation! Why wouldn t the Messiah come and establish His Kingdom? Why wouldn t Jesus throw off the yoke of political and social bondage and bring Israel freedom? Rome must go. Romans must go. Many Jewish people thought the Messiah would come and eliminate suffering. Messiah would heal all diseases, banish hunger, eliminate debt, and reality TV (no wait that s what we expect!). Jewish people also expected a kind of Messianic welfare state; where the Messiah doled out benefits. All material needs would be furnished. Utopia. The Messiah will bring health care, wealth, freedom from work and full bellies. No wonder the people of the Galilee were willing to crown Christ king after feeding the 5,000! Many Jews believed that the Messiah would be preceded by Elijah and perhaps some of the other prophets. Could it be that John just for a moment thought that Jesus might like himself be one of the prophets? Clearly Jesus own disciples in the beginning had misconceptions about the identity and mission of Jesus. Even after Christ s resurrection (Acts 1:6) the disciples ask; Lord, will You at this time restore the Kingdom to Israel? Jesus repeated His mission; to save people from their sin! 4
People remain confused about Christ s claims, His mission, and His return! Have you ever heard someone say; If Jesus is God then why doesn t he simply eliminate the Devil, eliminate sin and suffering and death? If God is a God of justice why doesn t he eliminate injustice? If God is a God of truth then why does He allow cults to thrive, why does he allow false doctrine, false religions? If God is merciful and kind and compassionate then why does He send people to hell? Many people s thoughts about God are informed or misinformed by popular culture or tragedy. Others are deceived by movies, bad books, bad doctrine or well meaning family and friends. The world does not know God. The world does not embrace the revelation of God in the Scriptures. To the unbelieving Jew who refused to believe Jesus as Messiah Jesus plainly said (John 10:26); But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. Look at the very end of verse 3; or do we look for another? The question implies unfulfilled expectations! When Jesus asked Peter and the others; will you go (leave) also? Peter replied, where can we go? Only you have the words of life? There is no other place to look. Jesus is the way or there is no way! Since Jesus did not exact judgment and burn the earth with fire and establish God s kingdom on the earth do we look for another? Do we look for Muhammid or Joseph Smith or the Mahdi? Was John crying out for judgment? How long must we put up with sin? How long must we wait? The King s Perfect Explanation (vv.4-6) 4Jesus answered and said to them, Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The answer Jesus gives is full of tenderness, tact and hope. Jesus always seems to have just the right thing to say. Jesus does not tell them; It will all burn eventually! I am going to judge this world and all the people who hurt you! What does Jesus say? Miracles occurred in the time of Elijah and Elisha. 5The 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. 6And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me. The two disciples are given the perfect answer. Tell John what you hear and what you see. Jesus uses the language of Isaiah 35:5,6 and 61:1-2. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. (6) Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert. 5
And Isaiah 61:1; 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; What was John s expectation? Judgment? Political liberation? Jesus has avoided using the term Messiah yet appeals to His works as Messianic credentials! W.H. Griffith Thomas: His works of love were true signs of Messiahship and His miracles emblems of spiritual deliverance, thereby clearly suggesting fulfillment of prophecy (Outline Studies in Matthew; p.154). It would appear that Jesus performs these miracles in their presence to take the message back to John. These miracles were in part intended to establish evidence proof that Jesus was in fact the Messiah (Isaiah 29:18). Why does Jesus say blessed is he who is not offended because of Me? Does Jesus preach a message of eventual judgment? The answer is yes. Does Jesus preach a message that includes God s infinite capacity for compassion, mercy, love and patience? We might think of Jesus statement this way; Oh how happy is he who does not stumble or is offended by the way God has planned to accomplish salvation! We might think of this as the blessedness of the unoffended! The Kingdom of God is coming. Perhaps not in the way you expected but it is happening. The poor have the gospel preached to them. Regular folks are receiving hope and encouragement! What Jesus did then He is able to do now! The blind are made to see. The deaf are made to hear. Jesus opens people s eyes. Jesus makes it possible for the spiritual cripple to walk. Blessed is both a promise and a warning! William Barclay writes; This was spoken to John; and it was spoken because John had only grasped half the truth. John preached the gospel of divine holiness with divine love. So Jesus says to John, Maybe I am not doing the things you expected Me to do. But the powers of evil are being defeated not by an irresistible power, but by unanswerable love. Sometimes a man can be offended at Jesus because Jesus cuts across his idea of what religion should be (see The Gospel of Matthew vol.2; revised edition). The word offended is the Greek verb skandalisth trip stumble offend. And what are we to think? Does Jesus offer the most loving, the most effective, the most productive way to reach people, to save people to heal people? Are you upset or offended at the way Jesus has chosen to act in your life? Are you disappointed in the decisions people have made in how they treat you? 6
Conclusion Henry Drummond wrote; Christ never failed to distinguish between doubt and unbelief. Doubt is can t believe; unbelief is won t believe. Doubt is honesty; unbelief is obstinacy. Doubt is looking for light; unbelief is content with darkness. Can faith live in honest doubt? C.H. Spurgeon asked; Where do you live? Many a believer lives in the cottage of doubt, when he might live in the mansion of faith. We were meant to doubt ourselves but not doubt the truth. We find ourselves in a culture that calls on us to do the exact opposite believe ourselves and doubt the truth. Jesus invites us to see and hear the truth. Doubt sees the obstacles, Faith sees the way; Doubt sees the blackest night, Faith sees the day; Doubt dreads to take a step, Faith soars on high; Doubt questions, Who believes? Faith answers, I! 7