Doubt

Wednesday, January 21st, 2026

5:10 am

Good morning! Today I am in Matthew 11:1-19 and Luke 7:18-35. At this time, John the Baptist is in prison. Some of his disciples told him about the things Jesus was doing, so he sent some of them to question Jesus. Asking Jesus if He was the Messiah they were waiting for or should they be looking for someone else? Jesus told John's disciples to tell John about all the things they had seen and heard Him do (the lame walking, the blind seeing, and the lepers cured, etc...). When they left to tell John, Jesus began talking to the crowd about John the Baptist. He asked them what kind of man they were expecting to find in the wilderness, a weak reed, a man dressed in expensive clothing, or a prophet? Then He tells them that John was more than a prophet, that he was who Malachi 3:1 was talking about. Then He goes on to tell them that John is greater than anyone who had ever lived, but even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than him. And from the time John started preaching, the kingdom of heaven had been advancing, and violent people are attacking it. And all the prophets and the law of Moses looked forward to this time. And that everyone should listen and understand. Luke adds that when the people heard this they agreed that God's way was right, but the Pharisees and experts in religious laws rejected God's plan for them. Then Jesus compares His generation to children complaining to their friends saying they didn't dance when they played wedding songs, so they played funeral songs but they didn't mourn. For John didn't spend his time eating and drinking, and they accused him of being possessed by a demon. But the Son of Man eats and drinks, and they call Him a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend to sinners. But He tells them that, "Wisdom is shown to be right by its results (Matthew 11:19)" or as Luke says, "Wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it (Luke 7:35)."

John the Baptist had begin to doubt that Jesus was the Messiah because of the situation he was in. Jesus eased his doubts by His actions, that were prophesied by the prophets of the past. The people in the crowd believed, but the Pharisees and experts in religious law did not want to accept John or Jesus, and steadily tried to find ways to condemn them even though they were not consistent in their fault finding with both men. They did not like that John and Jesus both challenged their views and lives.

Our situations in life will cause us to question and doubt Jesus. Jesus does not condemn us for our questions, just like He didn't condemn John, He welcomes them. When we begin to question, Jesus can show us through His actions, who He is. The Bible is a clear picture of who He is, and what He came to earth for. Not only that, but when we look back at our lives, and the things that we have gone through, God can and will show us how He was there for us every step of the way. Even though we may not have noticed at the time. Jesus goes on to tell us that no one was greater than John, but even the least person in the Kingdom is greater. This is because we can look back in history and see the evidence of Jesus' birth, death, and resurrection. We can see all of that, but John never got to. But John did exactly what God created him to do. And Jesus made sure the people knew that.

Do you have questions and doubts? Take those to God and allow Him to show you the truth. Then it is up to you what you do with that truth. Just like the people in Jesus' time, you can accept the truth, or you can be like the Pharisees and reject the truth. He gives us that option. But we each have to choose for ourselves. Jesus' truth challenges all of us, because Jesus' way is not the world's way. His ways are completely opposite to the way the world is. That makes it a hard decision. But we have to make it. God will not choose it for us, but He will give you all the evidence you need to make the choice for yourself. Then if you do choose God and His truth, then the evidence will be in your actions as well. Allow Him to show you the truth today.