What Would Jesus Think?
We have all been told that there is nothing wrong with doubting. It is completely normal to have doubts about God and our faith. In fact, experiencing doubt can even strengthen our faith. We have heard all these things countless times, but I can’t help but wonder if anyone besides me is asking themselves the million-dollar question…What does Jesus think about my doubts? Does it make Him angry or sad when I doubt Him? Does He get frustrated with me when this happens? I think we can look at a few scriptures to get some clues as to how He feels when we experience doubt.
First, let’s go back to the very beginning of Jesus’ story…before He even came on the scene. Before Jesus even began His ministry, there was John the Baptist. Most people are familiar with John the Baptist. He was the crazy guy dressed in animal skins living in the woods eating bugs. John is often credited as paving the way for Jesus. He had a band of followers, and he went around telling people all about this Messiah that was coming and encouraging them to get ready. He would baptize people and talk about how One was coming after him that would surpass him (John 1:15). John and Jesus were cousins, and John knew from the womb that Jesus was the Messiah (Luke 1:41) and received more confirmation when he baptized Jesus in the river (John 1:29-34). John devoted his life to preparing the way for Jesus as was prophesied by Isaiah.
Most of you know all of that, so why am I reminding you of it? Because despite all those things listed above, John the Baptist experienced doubt.
Matthew 11 talks about John being in prison awaiting his beheading (it’s a long story) when he hears that Jesus, his cousin, the One that he led countless people to follow, had left and was teaching and preaching in the towns of Galilee. So what does John do? He sends his disciples out with a question for Jesus. John wants to know, “Are you the One who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” (verse 3)
Doubt.
How does that happen? How does the one that was so certain that Jesus was the Messiah fall victim to doubt? It seems crazy that it could happen, but it did. You are probably thinking that it seems pretty obvious why John the Baptist was experiencing doubt. I mean, he is sitting in prison about to be beheaded, and the One person that he has devoted his life to is not coming to his rescue. However, the point of this blog post is not why John experienced doubt, but rather, what was Jesus’ response to his doubt?
Jesus begins His reply to John’s followers in verse 4, telling them to go back and report to John all of the miracles and healings that are happening as well as all of the good news that is being preached to the poor. Then, He says something interesting. In verse 6 He says, “Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me”.
John was basically like, “Bro, after everything I have done for You…devoted my life to encouraging people to repent and get ready for You to come…You’re really going to just leave me here in this prison to die an undeserving death? Maybe You're not the guy I thought you were.” And Jesus shoots back with, “Listen, I am doing everything that my Father sent me to do. Just like you did everything my Father asked you to do. God is working through me the same way that He worked through you for all those years. I know it doesn’t make sense, but this is His plan. I know it doesn’t seem fair, but this is His design. You have been obedient from day one. You fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy through your earthly obedience. Now, continue to be obedient all the way to the grave. Don’t let what I am doing destroy your faith in the Father, even though you don’t understand it.” (Obviously I am paraphrasing) John had encountered something that didn’t make sense to him, and he turned on the very Man that he spent his life defending and directing people to.
What does Jesus think about all of this? Well, as John’s disciples began to leave and take His message back to John, Jesus began defending John to the crowd. He started to tell them just how great John really was (verse 11). This man had been faithful all those years and then began to doubt that Jesus was the Messiah when disaster struck, and here Jesus is defending him despite all that. It appears as if we can doubt all day long, and Jesus is still going to come to our defense.
If we jump over to chapter 9 in the book of Mark, we find another example of Jesus responding to doubt. A story begins in verse 14 about a man whose son is possessed by a spirit that has left him mute and causes horrible fits and convulsions. The disciples have tried to cast the spirit out with no luck, so the man brings his son to Jesus at His request. The man asks Jesus to help if He can. Jesus is quick to pick up on the man’s doubt and responds with the question, “If you can?” Then He proceeds to tell him that “everything is possible for him who believes”. (verse 23) The man immediately responds by declaring his belief and then asking Jesus to help with his unbelief.
He is basically saying that he has faith, but he could always use more of it. The man recognizes that his faith is not perfect and could use some strengthening. And how does Jesus respond? He drives the spirit out of the boy. No lecture. No shaming. No more questions. No list of things that the man must do to strengthen his faith first. He simply grants the man’s request. We can doubt and still count on Jesus. Our faith can be weak, and we can still count on Jesus. Seems that Jesus values progress over perfection. What a relief that is.
This last example takes us into the 21st chapter of the book of John. Jesus has already been crucified and raised to life again, and He is having a conversation with Peter. Jesus asks Peter three different times if he loves Him, and Peter confirms that he does. Then Jesus lets Peter know that if he chooses to stay the course and follow Him, it will cost him his life eventually. Then Jesus says the first two words that He ever spoke to Peter again, “Follow me!” (verse 19) Jesus is reinstating Peter.
Jesus did not sugarcoat what it was going to look like for Peter to live the rest of his life in allegiance to Jesus. He never promised Peter a life of ease and luxury in hopes that Peter would accept the call. Jesus was very clear that if Peter wanted to live his life with Christ, it would cost him his life. He flat out told him that accepting this call would mean that one day he would be dragged off against his will and killed. There was no making this pretty for him so that he would be more inclined to accept.
So how did Peter respond? By pointing fingers at someone else. Peter immediately turns and says, “Lord, what about him?” (verse 21) Peter is experiencing doubt. Not five minutes ago, Peter was confessing his love for Jesus, and now, he is not so sure that he wants to accept this call to a life with Him. I think Peter wanted to make sure that if he was going to have to die for the cause, everyone was going to have to die for the cause. I get that. If I’m honest, that would probably be my first reaction as well. Jesus doesn’t miss a beat in His response to Peter. He says in verse 22, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” He basically tells Peter that it’s none of his business what happens to anyone else. His job is to follow Jesus, and Jesus’ job is to lead the way.
Jesus reminds Peter that the call to follow Christ is not a call to a life that is fair. It is not a call to live the same life that everyone else will live. It is not a call to walk the same path as other believers even. You are one of a kind, and so is the path that you will walk as a Christ follower. It is none of our business why certain people go through certain things and others don’t. Our job is to follow Christ wherever He may lead us, not wherever He may lead others.
What’s interesting to me is that Jesus reminds Peter of this but does not take back His offer or decide to build His church on someone else. Peter has just challenged His decision-making skills, and Jesus simply reminds him of his place and keeps right on going. Friends, if Jesus has decided to use you for something, no amount of doubt on your part is going to change His mind or make Him think that He made the wrong decision. He may put you in your place and remind you that He is still in charge, but His invitation for you to follow Him will still stand long after your doubts have faded away.
Resources:
Link to last week’s message - Doubt