4 Minute Read
Prepare Your Heart
To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.
Read God’s Word
A Verse for Today
Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.
Matthew 11:2-3 (CSB): “Now when John heard in prison what the Christ was doing, he sent a message through his disciples and asked him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’”
Reflecting on God’s Word
John the Baptist was a fiery preacher, unafraid to speak truth to anyone. But, on one particular occasion, when he put his finger in Herod’s face and told him that it was wrong for him to marry his brother’s wife, he was thrown into prison.
As the hours turned into days, and the days turned into weeks, John the Baptist continued to sit in that musty jail cell. The Scripture leads us to believe that he got discouraged. It seems that he, like every other Jew at that time, thought that Jesus would usher in the new Kingdom. But that’s not at all how things were playing out.
And then we read the verses I chose for today:
Matthew 11:2-3 (CSB): “Now when John heard in prison what the Christ was doing, he sent a message through his disciples and asked him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’”
We might scratch our heads at that question. Why? Because John the Baptist had confidently and publicly previously proclaimed that Jesus was the Messiah (John 1:29-34).
So, what are we to make of the question in our text for today? I believe John the Baptist still knew that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah. But because things weren’t playing out as he expected, and as he sat in a cell with chains on his wrists, he simply needed that truth to be reaffirmed. He needed encouragement.
If you have ever wanted to know how Jesus thinks of you when you get discouraged, you find yourself wanting to read further. How did Jesus respond to John? Did He get angry? Was He disappointed in his lack of faith? Did He sideline John and move on to those who weren’t battling with discouragement?
If you read the following verses to see how Jesus responded, you observe that Jesus did two things:
First, He gave proofs of who He was (Matthew 11:4-6). Jesus referred to Isaiah 35:5-6; 61:1, passages that the Jews understood were prophetically speaking about the Messiah. He essentially said: “Those things the coming Messiah is supposed to do – I’m doing them.”
Second, Jesus wasn’t finished. Sure, He gave John’s disciples the answer to relay back to him. But John might have gotten those answers and still remained discouraged. So, Jesus gave encouragement. As John’s disciples were leaving Jesus’ presence on their way back to their imprisoned teacher, Jesus spoke loud enough for them to hear. And Jesus laid the encouragement on thick (Matthew 11:7-15)!
Friend, if you get discouraged, please don’t feel that you have disappointed Jesus! We read repeatedly in the Gospels that Jesus was abundantly gracious to His followers, no matter how they stumbled. And He hasn’t changed.
If you are battling with discouragement, spend time in prayer, letting the Lord know of your heart’s condition. Spend time in your Bible, listening to what He will say to you. You may need to spend some time with a Christian friend or leader whom God can use to encourage your heart. Don’t let Satan make you think your discouragement has disappointed the Lord. Just re-read Matthew 11 and see that Jesus doesn’t act like that.
Spend Time in Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for being so gracious! Thank You for helping me and for Your desire to encourage me when I’m down. Help me not to listen to Satan’s lies and think that I have disappointed You when I’m struggling. Instead, help me to listen to the Holy Spirit’s voice as He “whispers” through Your Word that You love me and want to help me get through this. I pray in Your Name, Amen.
Going Deeper
If you want to go deeper, check out this article by Got Questions: “What is the key to overcoming discouragement?”
____________________
Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com).
Matt’s Musings 