The Doubting Prophet

Every year it’s a little surprising when gospel readings in Advent (the season leading up to Christmas) focus on John the Baptist, who’s basically the antithesis of holly and jolly. But Advent isn’t Christmas, and who better to read about during this time of preparation than “one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord’”? (Matt 3:3)

Besides, in Luke’s gospel, John’s story overlaps with the story of Christ’s birth. In Luke 1, a pregnant Mary goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth, also pregnant, with John. When Mary arrives, Elizabeth tells her, “as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy.” (1:44) John is already so attuned to the Holy Spirit that he recognizes the presence of Jesus in utero! Years later, John would have those feelings about Jesus confirmed emphatically when he baptized his cousin, and God the Father announced to everyone there: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matt 3:16-17)

To me, this history with Jesus adds some weight to a question John asks in Matthew chapter 11. He’s been arrested by King Herod, and he sends messengers to Jesus from his prison cell with a single question: “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” (11:3 NLT)

John, who called Jesus “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29) and said he wasn’t worthy to untie Jesus’s sandals (1:27), is now not so sure. Is this really the king we’ve been waiting for, God’s anointed one?

The John the Baptist you meet in the gospels was a radically devoted servant of God, witnessed incredible things, and understood who Jesus was literally from the time he was in his mother’s womb. Yet, he still had questions and doubts in hard times, when reality didn’t match his expectations.

And Jesus doesn’t criticize him for that.

Jesus doesn’t express any exasperation or disappointment. He simply tries to answer John’s question and help him understand. “Go and tell John…” (11:4-6)

When I hear the Advent story of the bouncing baby in Luke 1, I think about the man that child grows into, and his skepticism and misgivings. And Jesus’s response reminds me that it’s okay to have doubts and questions. Almost everyone does at some point! But doubt isn’t the opposite of faith. Unbelief is the opposite of faith. If John no longer believed, he wouldn’t have bothered to ask his question. We want to know more and want to understand better because we want to keep holding on to Jesus, not because we’ve given up.

If you’re wrestling with questions right now, don’t think that Jesus is disappointed or angry. Jesus doesn’t want you to ‘just get over it’ or ‘just have more faith’. What Jesus wants is to try and answer your questions and help you understand who is he and what he’s up to, so that y’all can keep holding on to each other and doing this life together.