It is entirely possible that John the Baptizer, locked up in Herod’s prison, was struggling in doubt when he sent his disciples to observe Jesus and ask if He was the Christ. It’s very easy for us to understand why John the Baptist may have struggled with his doubt. When things were good, at the height of his ministry, people were coming from all over to be baptized by John. It seemed like he was making a difference. And John was a very faithful man. He knew (and he had faithfully proclaimed) that Jesus—the Messiah—was coming to put evil to death, and bring life and salvation to all who believe. He cried out: “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” He knew (and faithfully proclaimed) that Jesus the Messiah was sent to rescue and bring people from death to life, from sin to salvation. He knew (and faithfully proclaimed) that Jesus the Messiah was coming to “set the captives free.” And yet one year later John finds himself sitting on death row for proclaiming the Truth of God’s Word regarding Herod and his sexual infidelities. One year later and John was himself very much a captive, and things weren’t looking good for the immediate future. 

This is when the devil does some of his best work for you and me, when you’re down and out and feeling the crushing weight of the cross you’ve been given to bear. That is when the devil goes to work exploiting the fear and weakness and the doubt. He tempts us to ask Jesus, “if you really are the Messiah, how’s about setting the captives free! Or…have I made a mistake? Are you not ‘the guy’?” When things in life are difficult, we understand this kind of doubt.

A couple of weeks ago, I talked about expectations. I could, at this point, again, go into the many and various ways we doubt and despair when God doesn’t meet our expectations. We’re all guilty of it. I’m not going to get into all of it though. I don’t need to. You all know how and when you have doubted God, when you have let the devil and the world get the better of your flesh. So, repent of it, and take heart. Rejoice, in fact. No longer be down cast. Looking to your own sinful doubts and despairs will never give you the comfort and peace that your Lord desires for you.

Even though John may have been tempted to despair that Jesus had not met his own expectations, Jesus said to see John’s disciples, to tell John, and now to tell you and me, when we may feel overwhelmed by life, disappointments or frustration. “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” 

That is why you are here today, to observe and see the proof that Jesus is the Christ for you. Look here. Look to this crucifix. Here is where almighty God Himself brought His plan of redemption to completion. “It is finished!” I don’t care who you are: No human would ever draw up the plan for victory over sin, death, and the devil with this as the centerpiece; the goal. This looks like the devil won! And yet…here is where God won the victory. Here is how God won the victory. 

Look to this baptismal font. Here is where this same God and Lord brought Christ’s victories over sin, death, and the grave to you. Here is where the bonds and prison of sin and death, which held you captive, were rent asunder and unlocked. Here is where God set you free from your sinful captivity and adopted you into His royal household. Ordinary water with His mighty name and Word. It doesn’t seem miraculous. It doesn’t meet expectations for appearing powerful, does it? The devil whispers in our ear: “There has to be more to it than this!” And we say, “I’m baptized, and yet bad things still happen to me.” The problem isn’t with the baptism, but rather with the flesh that needs daily drowning. We still live in a sin sick world with a fallen flesh that clings to us. But it is in this simple Word and God’s name with water, where spiritually blind are made “to see” by faith, the truth of Jesus Christ, where spiritually dead are raised to newness of life by the forgiveness of sin.

Look to the lectern, pulpit, and Bible. Look and listen. What do you hear? What do you not hear? You don’t hear the mere opinions of men. You don’t hear what you need to do. You don’t hear how your salvation is only potential, provided you meet all the goals to meriting such a gift. “‘It is finished…’ but now here’s what you still need to do.” That is not how God works His grace. Unfortunately, though, this is what so many people expect. After all, this is what Old Adam wants to hear. Sadly, there’s always someone there to scratch that itch and tell you what you want to hear. Test the spirits! Discern. LISTEN. What should you hear? Christ speaking. You hear His Law, regardless of who you are, who you’re related to, or what you put in the plate. You hear His Gospel, regardless of who you are or what you’ve done or not done. You hear Christ crucified for your sins and for the sins of all the world. Here is the Good News! Do you hear? Be encouraged. If all is well, rejoice and give thanks, but all of us in one way or another should recognize the lame Christian walk that we walk as we have fallen into sin. So, we hobble here to the cross, maybe we are carried by our brothers and sisters. Here to learn to walk again. How? By faith in Jesus Christ. To walk in Him and His Word. Not by following a 5-step plan of self-improvement, meditation, and navel gazing. No, by looking to the cross. Hearing the voice of Jesus, and receiving the riches of His grace and wisdom, we who were poor in spirit become rich by His Spirit and are led by Him through faith.

Begone all the worries and doubts and fears of this life and world. So many ‘good Christians’ aren’t worried about receiving the Body and Blood of Christ. My fellow redeemed: Look to this altar. Look to the rail. Here is Christ, kneeling down from heaven to nourish you with His own body and blood; giving to you His peace that surpasses all understanding. Here is where heaven is intersecting with earth. Here is where angels, archangels, and all the company of heaven join with us in communion with our God and Lord rejoicing in His victory.

Worry, fear, and frustration are the very things that the devil uses to separate us from Christ. And here where Christ speaks and He is proclaimed, heard, and received under the bread and wine is the answer to that fear, to our trouble, to our doubt, our grief, and disappointment. It is the victory call, the joyous sound and taste of triumph and hope in the name of Jesus crucified and raised triumphing over our flesh, the world, the devil, any given situation, and the threat of death.

Dear friends, here is something to think about. It is possible that John was doubtful as to Jesus, but it is also possible that he desired to see the Christ and He desired his disciples to see Jesus and point them to this promised Messiah. No doubt He rejoiced and found comfort in their report. He probably said to himself and his disciples. “Yes, He is the one. Rejoice, give thanks, now you go and follow Him.”

Therefore, let us also rejoice and point people to Christ and where He is for them. Do not let fear, doubt, discouragement, or pride overtake you and or them. This life is not the end. This is not the only life we are given. We are given and promised a life beyond this one. A life guaranteed to be perfect and eternally joyous and free. An eternal life purchased and won by Jesus Christ. Therefore, the sufferings of this life are able to be endured by His strength, and the joys of this life are only a foretaste of the life to come; to nourish us, encourage, and strengthen us on the way. Christ continues to come to us. To hear the message of the Gospel, the message that our passage from Isaiah declared.

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
        and cry to her
that her warfare is ended,
        that her iniquity is pardoned,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
        double for all her sins.
He will tend his flock like a shepherd;
        he will gather the lambs in his arms;
he will carry them in his bosom,
        and gently lead those that are with young.

And so, God continues to do for you and me through Jesus Christ. Through the One who has conquered, who has brought our ultimate warfare to its end at His cross and given that victory to us in baptism, and by faith leads, guides, and carries us through any difficulties even to eternal life with Him in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Pr. Aaron Kangas