December 16, 2018 Text: Luke 7:18-28
Dear Friends in Christ,
“Did you hear what she did? She left her husband and kids and flew to Aruba.” “I doubt that. She isn’t that kind of person.” “Did you see the device that has been invented that will cut our production time in half.” “I have to see this. But I doubt it’s true.” “I just heard on the News that President Trump didn’t send out a tweet today.” “Are you crazy? I have my doubts about the accuracy of that story.” We can be quite the doubters, can’t we? What was the latest this week – we didn’t really land on the moon! It never ends.
Do you ever have doubts about God? If you haven’t in your lifetime, let’s put you on a polygraph. We all have been gripped with fear and doubt somewhere in time on this benighted sphere. That puts you and I in select company this morning. Jesus calls John the Baptist “great” and he had doubts. After all, could he, the greatest of all prophets, ever claim to be . . .
“WITHOUT A DOUBT”
John had been quite sure about Jesus. He knew he was to prepare the way. He had proclaimed Jesus as the Christ. He even baptized Jesus in the Jordan River.
So now what? He is imprisoned in one of Herod’s fortresses. John’s future is not looking good and he knows it. I imagine prison can do that. He also has time to ponder and well that is leading to some doubts. He expected this Messiah to bring judgment and all he is doing are works of compassion and mercy. Why doesn’t this Messiah bring Herod down? John’s faulty expectations lead to confusion and doubt. Is Jesus the one who is to come, or should we be looking for another?
We also suffer from faulty expectations of Jesus and we don’t have to be sitting in a prison cell to conjure such thoughts. I follow Jesus and His Word so why does this sickness linger? How could I lose my job when my family is so in need? Why would he allow me to be at odds with family members? Did that person need to die because they were my support system? Why would a compassionate Savior allow such things? Maybe He is not who we thought he is? Jesus knows exactly who He is. It is our false expectations that we put on Him that lead to our doubts.
How did John resolve his doubts? By looking to Jesus. He sends two disciples to talk with Christ. Jesus explains that his actions speak for themselves: He is fulfilling the Scriptures as the Messiah. Now is the time of grace; judgment will come.
No doubt Jesus is the One sent from God as our Savior. John was right all along Jesus is the Prophet. Jesus was born of woman to become one with sinners. He became the least in the Kingdom while on the cross to redeem us from sin. He has made us the greatest in the Kingdom by faith.
Therefore, we can look to Jesus for assurance in our doubts. In our sickness, He heals us. In our job loss He provides new opportunities. In our family squabbles He can provide reconciliation. In death, He provides hope and reunion.
Did John finally come to terms with his questions and doubt? We can assume he did because of these reassurances that the Savior gave to him. These would be important because John would not leave that cell until his head came out on a platter. Without a doubt he believed that Christ was the Messiah, sent from God.
This text is a great study in human behavior because we put false expectations on each other all the time. We have doubts about a spouse or a parent or a child or a boss or a friend because they at times can let us down. “I thought I knew you.” “I never expected that from you.” When we suffer continued bad judgment or vices that never go away or perpetual lying or them not being there when we need them from others we then have doubts. “Is this the person I put my faith in?” Only to be squashed again. It hurts. It frustrates. What can I do?
On the other hand when we can count on a spouse or a parent or a child or a boss or a friend oh what joy to the world that brings. To trust in another. To have faith in another. To know you have their support. To know that they will be there for you. To have expectations that are met. You rejoice . . . without a doubt.
That is Christ Jesus for you and I. We know what we should expect from Him because he lays it out in inerrant, inspired words. The prophets write it – He fulfills it. He says it – He does it. His support is always there. It is unending. We are the blind who receive sight. We are the lame who walk. We are the lepers cleansed. We are the deaf who now hear. We will be the dead who are raised. We are the poor who have the good news preached to them.
Don’t you think that is a good place to end this morning? Yes . . . without a doubt.
Amen.