This week’s reading: Matthew 11:1-19
Hi Friends,
One of the realities of our Christian walk is that there will be times when we begin to doubt who God is. In this week’s reading, we will see the right thing to do when this doubt comes knocking at our door from the spiritual giant, John the Baptist. I praise God for allowing these events to be documented in the Bible because, if he struggled, who am I not to, right?! We will also see that this never stopped John from living in, and completing his great mission. We will be discussing Mathew chapter 11 verses 1 through 19, but listen to what Jesus says about His cousin:
“Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Mt 11:9-11 NIV
Doubt. The problem is not that we will doubt, we are humans who do not know it all, so we must think through and question things of life. As a matter of fact, the Bible encourages us to test all things and hold on to what is good. (See 1Thess 5:21) The problem comes when we allow doubt to diminish, and in some cases, supersede our Faith. The issue is we are not Omniscient like God. We do not know it all, no matter how much we like to tell ourselves we do. There will always be things of this world, how much more of the world to come, that we will not fully understand. And this is a good thing. I have often commented that, if I could completely understand God and His Will and Way, He wouldn’t be that great a God! Why? Because I am a child, with limited understanding. We humans view this world through our own narrow perspective. We barely can understand one another, much less God and His Holy Plan for us and this world. In other words, we are tiny, while God is majestically Eternal! It is just like a song from Steven Curtis Chapman says when speaking to God, “‘Cause I’m just a whisper And You are the thunder.” (You can check out the song here: https://youtu.be/unlF2jrLzhQ It is called “Much of You” and is one of my anthems!) Even this contrast though, does not come near to talking about the vast difference between our most amazing Creator and us, His beloved children, but I hope it leaves an impression on us. My point? It is normal to have questions, to test what we think we understand about God, and yes, even to have some doubt, but it is what we DO with this doubt that makes all the difference.
John the Baptist. If you really sit and read the story of this giant of Faith as described in all four Gospels, you will immediately know that he was not your average person. From his miraculous conception to his courageous death, it is obvious God had a very special plan for John’s life. And by God’s Grace, John lived it well and completely. He was not only a relative of Jesus, but he was also His forerunner. Born just 6 months before Jesus, he made it his life’s mission to point others, including us still, to The Savior. Living a most uncommon life of self-deprivation, John spent years in the wilderness, preaching and drawing anyone who would listen to God and the Messiah that would come to save us. He baptized probably hundreds, if not thousands, so that they would be ready to receive Jesus, when He came. This baptism did not bring Salvation, but it prepared hearts to be able to receive Christ and the Salvation He alone could provide. John was passionate about following God and His Word, and for this, he was thrown into prison. This is where we find him in our reading this week. We spoke about being empathetic a couple of weeks ago, so let’s attempt to place ourselves in his mighty shoes, shall we? Having all this fire for God, having spent years and years preaching about the coming Anointed One, and having the courage to openly face and object the life of the worldly leader of Israel, now he sits in prison. He must have been thinking, “Ok. I baptized Jesus and witnessed how the Father spoke and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him, so I know He is the one we have been waiting for, right? But here I sit. Isn’t He supposed to be freeing us from the tyrannical rule of these barbarian Romans? So what is He doing? Did I get this wrong? Is there another plan that I am not privy to? Is Jesus our Savior or not?” Can we blame him for any of that if those were the thoughts going through his searching mind? We have to stop and ask ourselves, how many times have I thought I was sure God spoke to my heart about something, but then because it did not happen in my timing or my way, I began to question what I knew, as well as Who God is? This is a human condition and as I said above, a very human reaction. But let’s see what John the Baptist did with these doubts: “When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him…,” let’s stop there. (Mt 11:2-3a) Did you see it? When John had some doubt, he connected with Jesus to clear up his questions! My Friends, this is what you and I must do as well. When doubts begin to challenge us, we must connect with God and ask Him to clear our minds so we can know the truth. This might mean talking to your pastor. It could be having fellowship with Christian friends you can be open with and trust. It could mean spending more time in God’s Word, reading, studying and researching everything to do with the topic of our doubt. Whatever it looks like for you, and whatever it looks like in each situation, it is only when we seek God that we can be freed from any doubts that will attempt to damage, or destroy our Faith. We must stop trying to sit alone somewhere, all by ourselves, and try to reason it out, all on our own. Again, we are not Omniscient. We do not, nor can we, know it all. We must do what John did here, and even if we cannot physically go ourselves like John, we must find any way we can to connect with God. Only God can turn any doubts into determination to continue to trust and follow after Him.
Jesus affirms the greatness of John the Baptist. After Jesus answers the question John sent his disciples to ask, by pointing to all the miraculous things Jesus was doing, He turns His attention to speaking about John. Jesus asks, then answers, who did you go see in the wilderness and why? Jesus calls John a prophet, and more than a prophet. Jesus shows that John was prophesied about in the Old Testament in Malachi 3:1, I urge you to go read the full verse. Jesus elevates John’s mission to be the greatest mission in this world, to point others to Christ. And Jesus also comments on how, those of us who will be drawn to Christ and believe, will receive the even greater blessing of having the Kingdom of Heaven because of John’s efforts and those like him. Just because we believers might not have a high position here on earth, does not mean we will not have the high privilege of being with John and all the saints in Heaven some day. Jesus both lifts John up and brings him to the same level as all of us, if you can imagine that, and in doing so, teaches that God does not play favorites. Each child of His is equal in the love they can receive, the mission they can possess and the blessings they can experience. We look at John and see an example of the life we all should aspire towards, in our own unique way of course. I sure hope God does not call me to eat locusts and wear a camel skin dress while living all by myself in a dessert somewhere…but then again, if that is His Plan for me, so be it. Like John the Baptist, in Christ, we can do whatever it is God designed us to do. And whether here on earth, or even better in Paradise some day, we will be called great saints of God. What an inspiration the life of John is!
How about “this generation”? Then Jesus turns His attention to the rest of the world. He asks, “To what can I compare this generation?” Then Jesus answers, “They are like children…” Children are a bit wishy-washy, right? We tend to change our minds according to what is currently happening around us, and as I mentioned above, we view it all from our own, very little understanding. You might find it interesting to get some background about what Jesus is talking about in verse 17, so this from Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers found at this website: https://biblehub.com/matthew/11-16.htm#commentary “The comparison is drawn from one of the common amusements of the children of an Eastern city. They form themselves into companies, and get up a dramatic representation of wedding festivities and funeral pomp. They play their pipes, and expect others to dance; they beat their breasts in lamentation, and expect others to weep. They complain if others do not comply with their demands.” Note: it is all about “their demands,” or in others words, expecting others to follow their understanding of the way things should go. First, “this generation” criticizes the way John lived, declaring that it was too restrictive, which would not allow for their own desire to indulge themselves. But then, they complained that Jesus was not pious enough, because He opened up His life to “sinners”! But neither John nor Jesus would play by their foolish games. They choose to live their lives displaying their mission. John’s message was all about repentance and self-denial. The life of Jesus was all about displaying a gracious willingness to be involved in the lives of whoever needed Him. This of course means sinners. While every single human who has ever walked this earth, except Jesus of course, is a sinner, we must be willing to admit this truth, or continue to be and act like “this generation.” All humans who attempt to live our lives by our own judgments are never satisfied. Others who are trying to follow God and live by His calling, well “this generation” will always find some kind of fault in those followers just so they do not have to follow God or live for Him themselves. May you and I never be considered part of “this generation”!
Wisdom always wins out. Whether now and here, or when all is said and done, God’s Wisdom will be found to be right. “Now and here” requires that we surrender to God or His Way and Word will always seem like foolishness to us. In 1Co 1:18 Paul tells us, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” Believers begin to live our lives according to God’s perspective more and more, instead of our own tiny understanding. As the influence of Jesus increases in the way we think, speak and act, we display God’s Wisdom and prove that it is the only way to live with peace and joy intact, no matter what is going on around us. Again in 1Co this time in 2:14 Paul warns, “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” In other words, those who continue to refuse the authority of God over their lives cannot understand God’s Wisdom and Way because it is only the Holy Spirit that can teach any of us how to live this New Life in Christ. If we do not have the Holy Spirit, then we lack the ability to understand God. The lives of giants like John will always seem confusing to us. We will not understand why they lived as they did, or for current saints live as we do live, nor sadly, will they ever experience the power and freedom of living in Christ. This week, and whenever God leads us, let us choose to imitate John. Let’s speak to whoever will listen about how Jesus saved us and how we are at least beginning to live differently than we used to, and how this change continues to increase the level of our Abundant Life. It is an honor and privilege, as well as a great responsibility, to share my heart about our most amazing God. This is certainly part of my mission and I wouldn’t have it any other way! How about you? Then won’t you join me?
Until we meet again, keep lifting your eyes to God, He’s closer than you think.
<>< Peace, Diane
