In Luke 7 Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
At Jesus’ baptism recorded in Luke 3 John saw the dove. He heard the voice from heaven proclaiming Jesus’ sonship. Then in Luke 7 we read, “When the men came to Jesus, they said, ‘John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”'” John was in prison and Jesus wasn’t advancing Jesus’ political posture. Things seemed to be getting worse. And so John doubted. He had seen the dove. He had heard the voice. And yet he doubted. And still Jesus called him the greatest ever born. I think I want to say “Wow.”
Therefore, if by any chance we find ourselves in a bad place, if we find life going down the drain, if we think we have lost all our friends, if our loved ones have turned on us, all of which leaves us to doubt God and His love, if we doubt that Jesus really cares, if we think our faith is based on thin air and there is no God, remember John the Baptist. It should clue us in to a fabulous truth. God knows our humanity. God knows how discouraged we can become. God knows Satan is determined to have us abandon our relationship with God. Despite all this God still loves us. We are still part of His family. Our doubt will not cause us to be disinherited from our legacy. Even when we doubt God still thinks we are the greatest! I think I want to again say, “Wow.”
Written by Roger Bothwell on March 30, 2016
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