Dave's Diary

Daily Reading: Matthew 11:2-11

Last week we witnessed the powerful ministry of John the Baptist, calling people to repent because the Kingdom of God was at hand. The Gospels also show us how, in those early days, John supernaturally recognised that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ – the King of God’s Kingdom. John 1 tells us,

²⁹ The next day John saw Jesus coming towards him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰ This is the one I meant when I said, “A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.” ³¹ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptising with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.’

John’s faith in Jesus as the Christ was profound. And yet, a few short years later, languishing unjustly in Herod’s dungeon, John’s certainty turned to deep doubt and confusion. We see him sending messengers to ask Jesus,

‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’ (Matt. 11:3)

While this is so sad, it is also strangely comforting. Despite John’s deep doubts, Jesus said of him, “Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist” (v.11) Now, if such a spiritual giant can doubt, we should probably not be surprised when doubts assail us too – particularly at times of great struggle and pain. It happened to John and it can very well happen to us. In such times, we should take great comfort from the fact that having honest doubts in no way disqualifies us from belonging to Christ.

The real leaf we need to take out of John’s book, though, is always to take our doubts and questions to Jesus! John did not pretend. Like “Doubting Thomas” would later do after the resurrection, John asked his question honestly. Yes, he had doubts, but he defiantly refused to allow those doubts to break his relationship with Jesus. May we also be defiant in the face of our doubts, take them to Jesus, and allow those doubts thereby to become instruments of our deepening faith, rather than a reason for our faith to fail.

Lord Jesus, thank you for understanding my doubts and fears. Please help me in my moments of unbelief and confusion. Draw close to me. Take my hand, and lead me back to a place of confident faith once again. Amen.