• Home
  • About This Blog
  • Contact Me
  • Subscribe
  • Comment Policy

Attempts at Honesty

Reflections on the interplay of the Bible and Culture

  • Westminster Shorter Catechism Series
  • Sermon on the Mount Series
Home Bible Reflection Doubt and Confusion

Doubt and Confusion

Posted on February 22, 2019 Written by Mark McIntyre Leave a Comment


John the Baptist was sitting in prison and wondering if somehow he had gotten things wrong. Getting thrown in prison should not be the result of acting as the forerunner of the Messiah. Was he misguided in thinking Jesus was the Messiah? How could things work out this way?

Luke tells us:

So John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord, asking, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

Luke 7:18b-19 (CSB)
Confusion

Jesus’ response is instructive. First, he does not chide or rebuke John for his doubt. John’s doubt and confusion is understandable considering his circumstances.

Secondly, Jesus responds with evidence. Jesus said to John’s Disciples:

“Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news, and blessed is the one who isn’t offended by me.”

Luke 7:22-23 (CSB)

Jesus points to the things that could only be done by the Messiah as evidence that John was not off track. Jesus provided evidence that he was indeed the long expected Messiah

The question I have to ask myself is this, “if John the Baptist, arguably the greatest prophet sent before Christ, experienced doubt and confusion, why would I assume that I should be exempt?”

Life does not work out the way we think it should. We are broken people in a broken world and as a result walk a crooked path through the rubble.

But, in the midst of it, we have Jesus making the world a little less chaotic and demonstrating that he has the power to make things right. He demonstrated this power while walking on our planet and he has promised to return to complete the job at some point.

Like John, we need to bring our doubt and confusion to Jesus knowing that whether soon or late, he will resolve it for us.


Filed Under: Bible Reflection

About Mark McIntyre

A follower of Jesus Christ who shares observations about how Scripture should impact the church and the world. Mark is the original author and editor of Attempts at Honesty.

Follow Attempts at Honesty

Honesty in your Inbox

Division

Four reasons for division in the church

In a previous post, I outlined the problem of division in the church. Today I seek to discuss the reasons why it takes place. I can think of four reasons why church leaders cause division over non-essentials: pride, misunderstanding, insecurity and idolatry.

Mask

Character, darkness and secrets revealed

Character is doing the right thing even when no-one is looking, yet God always sees and eventually the truth will win out. Stay the course and victory is assured.

Angry

12 Signs of a Controlling Church Pastor

I don’t often do blog re-posts, but this is one I have to pass on. Below are the first six signs as related by Jose Bosque in the article of the title “12 Signs of a Controlling Church Pastor” with a link for you to read the other six.

Gavel and law book

On discernment ministries

I recently read a post by a pastor who, with a broad brush, condemned all “discernment ministries” as being unloving and promoting disunity in the church. The concern is that such statements could be construed as saying that it is wrong to exercise discernment. Are we to take the position that anyone who claims his […]

Young Golfer

It is worth doing badly

The fact that I sometimes do the Christian life badly does not diminish the truth of who Jesus is and what he came to accomplish. The Christian life is worth living, even if I fall short of where I think I ought to be in my level of spiritual maturity.

Post Series

  • Westminster Shorter Catechism Series
  • Sermon on the Mount Series

Categories

Archives

Blogger Grid
Follow me on Blogarama

Copyright © 2022 · Focus Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in