“He’s Never Lied” featuring Lucy Jane Rutherford, Jim Rogers and Mike Backhouse from the album “The Season of Singing” recorded and produced by Ross Gill

So here is another extract from Selwyn Hughes’ “Every Day With Jesus” – and from the edition -“Strong at the Broken Places.”

Selwyn is referring to the passage in Matthew’s Gospel Chapter 11:3 “Are you the one who is to come or should we expect someone else.”

An important thing to remember when considering the issue of doubt is that although God would prefer us to believe, He is exceedingly loving and gracious towards those who struggle with genuine doubts. Did you notice that when we were looking at Thomas two days ago that Jesus did not denounce his attitude of doubt, nor did He refuse his request for physical evidence that He truly was the Christ? Instead Jesus said to him “Put your finger here; see my hands. Roach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe (John 20:27)

The passage before us today tells of another occasion when a person closely associated with Jesus become obsessed with doubt. John the Baptist was in prison and probably suffering great discomfort and disillusionment. From prison he sent some messengers to Jesus to ask if He really was the Messiah or if they should be looking for somebody else. John, you remember had baptised Jesus and had introduced Him to the world with these words “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1; 29)

Does it not seem strange that John who had witnessed the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus at His baptism, should have developed doubts about who He was and the validity of His mission? How did Jesus respond to this situation? With tenderness and sensitivity. He said “Go back and tell John what you hear and see. The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear. (vv 4-5) Jesus could have rebuked John, His doubting cousin, with strong words of reproof, but He didn’t. Although Jesus is concerned when we have problems, He is more concerned about people.

Quote of the week:

Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.

John Wooden