Dealing With Doubt (Part 2)

In the previous post I embarked on an exploration of the issue of doubt.  We began considering John the Baptizer as our example.  Matthew 11:2-6 reveals John’s ‘doubt’ and how he handled it.

John’s Question

“Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’” (Matthew 11:2-3)[1]

Although John was in prison, he had contact with the outside world, and was aware of what Jesus was doing.  Matthew 8-9 records Jesus’ miraculous ministry, particularly the miracles of healing.  Jesus was healing people of leprosy and other diseases and those afflicted with paralysis, blindness and muteness.  Extraordinarily, He had also raised a girl from the dead. 

John heard all this but still had questions.  As mentioned previously, John’s preaching centered on the coming judgment.  When Jesus appeared and the Spirit revealed Him to be the Christ (see John 1:32-34) John’s thoughts must have naturally turned towards the impending arrival of the Kingdom of God.  Why, if Jesus was the Messiah, did the Romans still oppress God’s people?  Why was he still a prisoner?  Why hadn’t the fire of God consumed the wicked? 

When reality does not meet expectation, doubt often follows.  The reality of Jesus’ ministry did not line up with John’s expectations.  Shades of doubt had entered his thoughts; so he sent his disciples to Jesus for an answer.  They asked Jesus, ‘Are You the One who was to come, or should we expect someone else?’

‘Are You the Coming One…?’ 

Everyone was hoping and looking for Messiah.  The Pharisees had wondered if it was John (John 1:19-21).  Maybe they had in mind the words of the Psalms and the Prophets (see for example Psalm 118:26; Isaiah 59:19-20; Malachi 3:1).

John now asks the same question.  Who exactly is Jesus?  Is He Elijah or the Prophet?  Is Jesus the Christ?   ‘…or should we be expecting someone else?’  The verse translates better as, ‘…should we be expecting a different type [of Messiah])?’[2]

Why would John think to ask about a different type of Messiah?

Out in the desert, near the Dead Sea, lived a Jewish religious community called the Essenes (the group responsible for writing and collecting most of the Dead Sea Scrolls).  While John was probably not part of this community, many believe he had some contact with them.  Theologically, there were some strong similarities between them.  Perhaps this question betrays some of that familiarity.

From some of their writings, the Essenes appear to have had a belief in multiple Messiahs, different from one another.[3]  They believed that, at the end of the age, a Priestly Messiah, the “Messiah of Aaron”[4] would appear first to teach and reform.  The Messiah of Israel, a warrior who would lead the final battle, would then follow.

There is a distinct possibility that John was wondering if Jesus was the Priestly Messiah but not the Warrior Messiah.  Should he expect a different type of Messiah?

I would argue that most of our doubt flows from a misperception of Who God is; of Who Jesus is.  We may have some idea of what God should be doing; of the way He should act.  We may have ideas of what Jesus should be like.  When the reality of life hits us; when we are confronted with a challenge to our preconceptions, doubt can begin to creep in.

If you are facing doubts, the first thing you need to do is check your expectations.  Chances are there is something askew there that needs to be corrected. 

We will take up how we are to handle doubt in the next post.

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[1] English Standard Bible.  Copyright © 2000, 2001 by Crossway Bibles, A Division of Good News Publishers, 1300 Crescent Street, Wheaton, Illinois 60187, USA.

[2] Luke 7:18-23 also records this episode.  Both accounts are almost identical in every way: except here.  Luke’s verse translates as ‘…should we be expecting another [Messiah])?’  Luke uses the Greek word allos which means ‘another’, usually of the same type.  In Luke, John is asking if there will be a second Messiah, similar to Jesus.  Matthew uses the Greek word heteros which means ‘another of a different sort’.  Note the ‘hetero prefix that we use on word such as ‘heterodox’- a different belief; ‘heterogenous’- of a different part or species. 

[3] For those really interested these references can be found in the Dead Sea Scrolls called The Community Rule (1QS; 4Q255-64; 4Q280, 286-7; 4Q502; 5Q11, 13); The Messianic Rule (1Qsa = 1Q28a); Blessings (1Qsb = 1Q28b); Messianic Apocalypse (4Q521); as well as 4Q266; 1QSa11, 20

[4] From The Messianic Rule (1Q28a).  Interestingly enough this ‘Messiah’ would be ‘begotten of God’.