Jesus never dealt with any two people in the same way. He is the perfect example of how we can connect with people in our world. So, what would He say to the doubter?
Notes:
Focus verse: Matthew 11
When Jesus walked this earth, He encountered many people,
and He always had time for individuals.
John the Baptist was not just significant but super-significant.
John offered hope to the people, calling them back to God.
John was fearless. He called out the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and professionally religious.
Matthew 3:7–8
John baptized our Lord in the Jordan river and said,
“He must increase, and I must decrease.”
John’s job was to prepare the way for the Messiah.
Read: Matthew 11:1-11
Before wearing “many crowns,” Jesus would wear the crown of thorns.
Before the throne would come the cross.
Doubt is not a sin.
Sometimes we need to go through the foyer of doubt to get into the sanctuary of certainty.
Moses was ready to quit.
Elijah was ready to quit after Carmel and hearing Jezebel’s threats.
Doubting Thomas wanted to know for himself what the others knew.
The Apostle Paul was discouraged.
John the Baptist had a troubled mind and a broken heart.
Jesus responded with scriptures from the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah.
Isaiah 35:5–6 / Isaiah 61
“God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.”
Matthew 11:6
God never rebukes any who come to Him with sincere questions or honest doubts.
Jesus used the opportunity to speak of John’s greatness.
Matthew 11:1-8
It does not matter what others think of us or even what we think of ourselves.
What really matters is what Jesus thinks about us.
Matthew 11:11
John was a friend of the Bridegroom.
We are the bride of the Bridegroom.
Doubt is a matter of the mind.
Unbelief is a matter of the will.
Doubt has questions.
Unbelief rejects answers.
Jesus refocused John’s priorities.
Jesus used Scripture and referred John back to the prophecies of the Messiah in Isaiah.
Jesus kept on with His purpose and asked John to trust and follow.
When we stand before God on that final day, we will realize that He never sat on his hands, they were nailed to the cross!
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