Doubting John?

Chances are we've heard the phrase "Doubting Thomas".  Coined from that stubborn friend of ours the apostle Thomas who said he would not believe that Jesus had risen except he touch His wounds.  When someone calls you a "Doubting Thomas" it usually has a less than nice slant to it.  But did you know that there was someone else who doubted Jesus?  This someone not only doubted Him but he did it while Jesus was still alive and after he had proclaimed that God had revealed to him that Jesus was the Christ.  Who was he?  John the Baptist.

            John's story is more like mine or yours than Thomas'.  At least I would think.  Tom had good reason to have his doubts.  "I mean come on, you guys expect me to believe that Jesus was here while I stepped out.  You're putting me on.  He's dead people, face the facts."  But John's doubt came from deep despair.  Let's look at the whole picture.

            John was baptizing beyond the Jordan.  He claimed that he was preceding the Messiah.  He saw Jesus. Saw the Spirit descend upon Him.  Glorified God.  Told everyone that Jesus was the one of whom he had be talking.  Told his disciples that they ought to leave him and follow Jesus and then what....  He gets thrown in prison and in his dark cell he sends some guys out to Jesus with the question, "Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?"  Wasn't this the same question people had been asking him and without a hitch he said, "Jesus is the one, follow Him"?  I can definitely relate more to John. 

            There have been times when I have fought this battle and I'm sure I'm not alone.  You feel like you're in a dark prison cell.  You wonder why, if God was watching out for you, would He put you here.  And in your time of despair you ask the question, "Art thou He?"  But guess what, we're in good company.  Listen to what Jesus about John, "For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist..."  Not bad.  To be a prophet was pretty good, but to be the greatest prophet, after that doubt, I'd say that was incredible.

            And what Jesus' response?  He let the inquisitors hang around a bit and watch what He was doing.  Then he sends them back to John saying, "tell him what you have seen." 

  

            Praise God that Christ does the same for us!  In our moments of despair, in our moments in the dungeon, in our moments or doubt and honest questioning (Thomas actually means "seeker of the truth"!), if we would take our eyes off of our circumstances, if we would stop saying "woe is me" and starting paying attention to what Jesus is doing in the lives of others... our "woe" will change to a "wow" and we will be renewed!

            We'll all have doubts, that's natural.  When we do we have to remember those things that convinced us at first,... our first love.  Faith that is not tried will not be pure.  Will He allow us to have faith that is not always being tried, not allowing it to grow stronger?  I doubt it.

SDG