Do you doubt Jesus?

. John the Baptiser told people about the Messiah just prior to Jesus making His public appearance.

. John the Baptiser was confident when he said, “Here comes a man whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”

. John the Baptiser explained to people that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah.

. John the Baptiser was at the top of his game when Jesus began His public ministry.

John changed lives. He made waves. He challenged the social power structure with a powerful message of the need for repentance. And then it happened. John the Baptiser pushed some powerful buttons. He got arrested.

Anyone who has followed Jesus for more than a little while knows what it’s like when Jesus takes off the training wheels. A child dies. The layoff notice comes. Co workers mock. Questions for God of “Why would You allow this to happen when you know that I love You?” are tempting. And then, comes the question, “Jesus, are You really who You said You are, God incarnate?”

As John sat in a dungeon, perhaps knowing that his days on earth were short in number, he sent friends to ask the same questions of Jesus.

“Are you really the One we’ve been waiting for?”

Jesus didn’t even answer, at least not directly. And we read, “Tell John what you see Me doing.”

And He continued healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, making the lame and crippled walk, curing leprosy, freeing people from demon possession, forgiving sins. Why would this reassure John that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, the Son of God, God incarnate? Because Jesus was doing things that were prophesied that the Messiah would do, and He was doing things that were inconceivable from a human point of view. These people knew that disease does not respond to words. These people knew that the elements don’t change at a command. These people knew that Jesus was doing the impossible.

If you are doubting, if the lies of pagans or atheists cause you to second guess your earlier beliefs, tell Him what’s going on. Let God know of your struggles. He understands. He loves you and cares about you. And don’t worry if you wobble. Taking the training wheels off is the only way to become good at following the path Jesus has chosen for you.