Daily Devotions
Matthew
A Puzzled John
Text: Matthew 11 : 1 - 19
John the Baptizer was so sure about many things in life. He was confident about his faith in God. He believed that he was “the voice in the wilderness” preparing the hearts of many in Israel to receive the Messiah.
He was very certain that Jesus was the Messiah the moment he set eyes on Him. He was humbled by the fact that He who was the Chosen One would seek baptism at the Jordan! That faith in Jesus was confirmed when he heard the very voice of the Lord proclaiming Jesus as the Beloved Son of God!
He pointed many of his own disciples to Jesus when He began His public ministry. “He must increase, and I decrease” was a good motto he practised. He had followed the ministry of Jesus where possible, even though he was in Herod’s jail. He kept in touch through the reports that his disciples sent him.
As the days and weeks passed, John continued to languish in prison. He had heard of the many mighty miracles Jesus performed. He had heard of how demons had to submit themselves to the authority and power of Jesus the Messiah! However there were some nagging questions that had not been fully resolved in his mind. Why was he still in prison? Why hadn’t the Messiah with all His powers released him from jail? Surely, he could have been an asset to Jesus in ministry!
“And when John had heard in prison about the
works of Christ, He sent two of his disciples and
said to Him, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do
we look for another?'”
Matthew 11:2
DOUBTS CAN BE SO DESTRUCTIVE
It is a sad thing to see how doubts can hurt a person. No one is spared from this problem, not even someone like John the Baptiser. Let us look at some of the things that could have caused these doubts to arise so strongly.
1. Beware the tough circumstances of life
John had been cast into prison for some time now. He was just put away under lock and key without any access to justice. Herod the tetrarch was a typical despot who wielded his considerable powers in deadly ways. John’s incarceration may be cited as a typical example of what he could get away with.
To be in prison is a frightful experience. Confined by four walls day and night, and having little or nothing to do everyday can break a person’s spirit easily. The strongest person would still have to fight very hard to fend off dark and loathsome doubts that will shake a person’s faith to the very core!
John’s continued incarceration caused doubts to fester. Soon, he was taken up with doubts. He could not shake off the doubts that lingered on and on in his mind. His situation in life made the doubts become more real than the messages he had proclaimed!
2. Lack of full trust
John started out with a great sense of certainty that Jesus was the Messiah. Message after message was proclaimed mightily. Always John spoke about the One who was to come after him. This was well recorded in the Gospel of John.
“John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying,
‘This was He of whom I said, He who comes after
me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ”
John 1:15
It is one thing to have knowledge. It is another thing to have full trust! Everyone struggles with the problem of having full trust in the Lord – even John the Baptiser! He had heard about the works of Christ! Who would not marvel at the works Jesus did? The sick were healed. Demons were cast out. Even the dead were raised! This was now common knowledge! But what did these facts mean? What do these facts mean to a young man full of zeal and energy, but languishing in prison?
John had knowledge. What he badly needed was to have full trust in the Lord! He couldn’t figure out why he was still in prison when he could be out there serving alongside! He was chafing in prison!
NOT AN UNCOMMON EXPERIENCE
What John felt was not an uncommon experience. Time and again, great servants of God found themselves battling their feelings. All of them struggled with the same problems. Questions were raised to God in prayer as an expression of the struggles felt deep within the soul. The psalms contain a number of examples of people who struggled with their doubts.
“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide Your face from me?
How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart daily?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me? ”
Psalm 13:1,2
The words of the psalmist David might well reflect how John the Baptiser felt as he struggled with his imprisonment. Daily his soul must have been vexed. What untold sorrow did he feel in his heart daily?
“O God, why have You cast us off forever?
Why does Your anger smoke against the
sheep of Your pasture?”
Psalm 74:1
This psalm from the Asaphic collection also reflects deep distress. When distress comes, doubts will not be very far away. Faith and doubts are always locked in mortal combat, no questions asked and none given. Doubts can be merciless in their assault against the hardiest soul. Doubts take a terrible toll. John was hit very hard.