Beware the nattering naybobs of negativism. Has anyone ever doubted you? How did you respond? More importantly, do you ever doubt?
How could John doubt Jesus? John jumped in his mother’s womb when Mary, pregnant with Jesus, visited. He baptized Jesus while the Spirit descended like a dove and the Father spoke his approval. But John was in jail. I hear that spending time in jail can be depressing. In contrast with the false protestations of many criminals, John actually was innocent. There in jail, he wondered why Jesus wasn’t taking over. So he sent his people to ask. Jesus sent back good news and encouraged him not to stumble.
Even more impressive was Jesus’ response to John. He could have taken this moment to demonstrate the superiority of his ministry over John’s. But instead he blessed John publicly as the greatest person born of women. Jesus was not fettered by our desperate need for approval. He had heard his Father’s voice so clearly at baptism, that he did not have to worry about other voices. Perhaps the greatest question for us is, “Are we where God wants us to be, doing what he has called us to do?” If we get that right, we can even bless those who doubt us.
