039 Luke 7:18-23 - by Pat Tharp

Luke 7:18-23 by Pat Tharp

"Dealing with doubt"

Series: Youth Group Studies from Luke

039 Luke 7:18-23

“Dealing with doubt” 2/29/12

Tonight as we continue in the Gospel of Luke- we will learn a very valuable lesson, from the greatest prophet, according to Jesus, who ever walked the face of the earth. This man is John the Baptist.

We’ve already spent some time with John earlier in the Gospel of Luke. We saw his miraculous birth; his parents were older and didn’t have any children, and yet they would have John. We looked at the marvelous plan for John’s life as the forerunner of the Messiah, who would prepare the way of the Lord. We also looked at his hardcore and uncompromising message to the religious leaders and the people of his day, as he called them to repent of their sins. He was a man on fire who cared very little for what was popular in society or men.

Once Jesus came on the scene, John would point people to Jesus and say, “He must increase and I must decrease.” John 3:30

It is interesting to note that John was a cousin of Jesus, He would have spent some time with him as a child, grown up together, heard all the stories from his Dad Zacharias, and his Aunt Mary about Jesus. He would be well versed in the scriptures that spoke about the Messiah and what He would come to do once He arrived, and he would even hear the voice of God from heaven at the baptism of Jesus say, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” Luke 3:22

But John, this mighty man of God and powerful prophet would be at a place where he, despite all of these things and evidences would fine himself having questions as to whether or not Jesus was who He said He was and what the scriptures said about the Messiah; or was John to look for another.

Tonight we will look at how to “deal with doubt.” A parallel passage to this account can be read in Matt. 11:2–6. So lets pray, and ask for God’s blessing on the word, our hearts, and this time.

Pray. Let’s read through and then go back and unpack it. Luke 7:18-23

18 Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things. 19 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?” 20 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?’ ” 21 And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight. 22 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. 23 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

1A little background before we unpack this: Matt. 11: 2 says that at this time, John was in prison when he sent his 2 disciples to Jesus. And it is possible that John, at this point, may have been in prison for up to a year, Matt. 4:12. Why was John in prison? Mark 6:18 says that John confronted King Herod who was living with his brother Philip’s wife, Herodias, as his own wife. And not only was this wrong, but this woman was his niece. This family was like the Jerry Springer Show, and John stood up and rebuked the King, but Herodias, had John put in prison.

It is not always easy to stand up for what is right; there may be consequences by you taking a stand for what is right. You may not be thrown into a prison or crucified like Jesus, but you may not be as popular with the group, or have as many friends, or be well received, because you speak what is true and stand up for what is right. But John lived to please the Lord- not man, and he didn’t fear man- he wasn’t arrogant, but was a very humble man.

So from prison, John sends 2 of his disciples to double check on Jesus’ credentials. Who is this “Coming One or “expected One?” This person would be the long awaited Messiah that the scriptures had foretold would come as King and Deliverer. John knew prophecy, but his present condition has left him a little perplexed and on the edge of doubt.

That is the biggest question anyone could ever ask in life- “who is Jesus?” Not what have others told me about Him, what is His reputation, or what rumors have I heard about Him- but who is Jesus? Is He who he says He is?

Until you answer that question in your own soul- you will be a restless and weary wanderer through life- John hear, wanted to know for sure.

The “Coming One” was prophesied about in Deut. 18:18 as Moses wrote. David called Jesus “Lord” in Psalm 110:1 Abraham looked towards the Messiah, John 8:56

Jesus said in Luke 24:27 after His resurrection to the 2 disciples on the Road to Emmaus, “And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” All scripture points too and is about Jesus Christ.

And Jesus fulfilled all the Messianic prophesies from His birth place to the things that the Messiah would do 100%

C.S. Lewis said about Jesus, “He is either a liar, a lunatic, or Lord.” Who is He to you? The answer to this question has eternal consequences or eternal joy.

21 And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight. 22 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.

What was Jesus’ response to John’s questions? He answered by reminding John of the things he was doing- that only the Messiah could do, the Coming One, the expected One. Jesus was not only healing the sick, casting out Devil’s, opening blind eyes, making the lame to walk, healing lepers, raising the dead and preaching the gospel- but He did it right in front of John’s disciples eyes so they could see.

Jesus fulfilled the Messianic prophecies in Isaiah 61 and said in Luke 4:21, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” How much plainer could it have been as He declares that He is the Messiah, the one they had been waiting for. The fact that Jesus fulfilled al of these prophecies is an amazing study in itself- talk about proof!

But John was in a place- a prison where everything he read, and knew, and believed was being challenged by his present circumstances. The Jewish people were expecting the Messiah to save them from the tyranny of Rome, but God’s plan was bigger than politics, it was deliverance from sin through the cross. Things for John at this moment were unclear. John didn’t have the benefit like we do of knowing the rest of the story, how things would turn out ultimately.

So John is in a place where we may find ourselves on occasion, not that of unbelief, but that of “doubt.” Know this- “unbelief” is a symptom of an unbeliever, someone who is not a Christian...a Christian will at times experience “doubt,” but not unbelief.

How do we deal with “doubt.”

Let’s first define it- doubt is a struggle to believe; It is a situation or event that prevents me from fully believing. It can be momentary, it can be prolonged. It can be permanent, if not dealt with.

What are some things that cause people to doubt? Anyone...........

• • • •

Personal tragedy or crisis is a big one. Worry is another. Unanswered prayer. Man’s wisdom- education, science, “higher learning.”

A death in the family...a divorce...an injustice... an insult or assault...a lost job...a foreclosed home...little income in the house...a friend who betrays you...something you’ve prayed for but hasn’t come to pass yet...a professor in high school or college that mocks you because you believe some “cave-man religion” based on fiction and fairytales, and not on current scientific research and advancement. Doubt will come to us in many paths and problems.

We will all at one time or another go through one of these things, some of these things, or all of these things. There will come into our lives things that “don’t add up,” “don’t make sense.” We may find ourselves asking questions like, “why me,” “why God,” or “how come?” or “How long?”

Things may come into our lives that will shake our faith, rattle our cages, or cause us to question God. Let me say up front- having doubts or questions because something doesn’t add up, or doesn’t make sense is not sin, and it is not a sign of weak faith- In fact doubts dealt with in the right way can actually lead you deeper in Jesus, and bring you to a more solid place than where you may have been before.

How do we deal with “doubt?”

1. DowhatJohndid...”AskJesus.”GotoJesuswithyourquestions.WhatdoesHehavetosay about your struggles and doubt? We can go to Him in prayer with our questions, and open up His word for our answer.

Jer. 33:3 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'

Psalm 119:128, “Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way.”

2. “Walkbyfaith”...faithisnotablindtrustinanunknownorabstractthing,itisbaseduponthe reliability of another, and the relationship you have with that person. Faith for the Christian is the confident assurance of coming good. It is a trust in Jesus that He has your best in mind, and your good in sight for your life.

2 Cor. 5:7, “for we walk by faith and not by sight.”

Walking by faith is not being swayed by what you currently see, or where you currently are, but rather being persuaded by what you believe.

When Joseph was betrayed by His brothers, sold as a slave, sent to Egypt, lied about by Potipher’s wife, and cast into prison and forgotten there for a few years, that may have challenged his faith a bit- but God used it to bring about the salvation of Israel and protect them through a severe famine that was coming.

God is able to take those things that shake us, and bring grace into our lives to shape us, and work a plan out that ultimately turns out for good.

Rom. 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to [His] purpose.”

3. Doubtyourdoubts...ifyouaregoingtodoubtanything,doubtyourdoubts...doubtthethings you don’t understand...doubt the questions you may have...doubt the things that challenge your faith, and trust Jesus.

As Jesus was preparing to be betrayed and go to the cross to be crucified for our sins, He has a Passover dinner with His disciples, and proceeds to give them a final ministry lesson on servant hood. Since they were always arguing about who was the greatest, Jesus will give them one final lesson on true greatness. So He proceeds to wash their feet- the lowliest of all acts, usually performed by a household servant or slave in those days. God in the flesh, washing dirty feet... That is a picture of the gospel, but Peter protests, and is offended, basically saying, “Lord what are you doing?”

Our doubts can cause us to say the same thing, ‘Lord...what are you doing?” “I don’t understand,” “This doesn’t make sense.”

John 13:7, “Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this."

The answers to our questions may come later, at a different time, in another place in life, or we may have to wait until heaven, but either way, let your doubts lead you to jesus for answers and comfort.

23 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

Jesus isn’t rebuking John- He is really encouraging John. He is saying “hang in there John...keep believing...you may not understand everything I’m doing, but I’m in control and will ultimately work this out.” John would loose his head to a sword...but He would go to heaven and see that his work on earth was done.

Here is the big idea:

What doubts do you have tonight? What things “don’t add up?” if you keep those things inside- it will eat you alive and cause you to despair, but if you bring them to Jesus, walk by faith, and doubt your doubts, your faith will be strengthened and hope will arise in your heart. Let those doubts lead you to Jesus.

If you are in unbelief as a non-Christian, and none of this adds up, and all of this is crazy talk, I challenge you to also ask Jesus, read a Bible and get the facts before you come to a conclusion that could have eternal consequences. You can’t say “I don’t believe” if you never check out the facts- and if you don’t check out the facts, then you are choosing to not believe, to your own hurt and destruction.

Let’s pray.