“Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things. And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” When the men had come to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’ ” And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight. Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.””
Luke 7:18-23 NKJV
I don't know why I never noticed this before. John the Baptist was the one who announced Jesus' arrival on the scene with, "Behold the Lamb of God!" (John 1:29) John the Baptist was the one who baptized Jesus. Of all people, I thought he would have known who Jesus was and yet, here he is asking, "Are you the Coming One, or do we look for another?"
We are all frail human beings. We are all prone to doubt. John the Baptist was no different. This should be an encouragement to us. Not a justification for doubting, but an encouragement that when we do doubt God, we are not some horrible failure spiritually. John the Baptist did what we should do when we doubt. He asked questions of the One Who could answer them. When we doubt we need to go to God in prayer and ask that He help our unbelief and then go to His Word to find the assurance we need.
We know that John the Baptist must have gotten over his doubts because Scripture tells us he was put in prison because of his preaching. This is an encouragement as well, not that he was put in prison, but that God brought him out of his doubting.
Let your doubts drive you to the One Who can answer your questions and find encouragement to keep trusting Him.
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