By Jeff Cranston

We all have experienced a feeling of disappointment about someone or something we previously respected or admired. Even many people of faith in Scripture went through seasons of doubt and disenchantment. Abraham and Sarah were excited about God’s promise to give them a son but got tired of waiting. Moses experienced the highest of highs in leading God’s people out of Egypt and in meeting God face to face on Mt. Horeb, but he also experienced the lowest of lows when the people rebelled and refused to listen. The disciples followed Jesus, and then they deserted Jesus when things didn’t go the way they thought they would. Still, in the midst of it all, God continued loving His people and working in their lives. As you go through seasons of disenchantment, remember what God has done and continues to do in your life.

Read Luke 7:18-23. In this passage, John the Baptist was feeling disenchanted with it all: his ministry, his circumstances, and possibly, even with Jesus. What can we learn from this? 

1. When you feel disenchanted, go to the source. (Luke 7:18-20)

John had been in prison for months, and while he was there, he was receiving reports of the miracles of Jesus, especially about the raising from the dead of the widow’s son.

So, based on these reports, and on John’s miserable condition, he sent out word by his disciples to ask Jesus a most important question: “Are you the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?” (Luke 7:20b). The “expected one” or the “coming one” was a well-known designation for Israel’s Messiah.

John had his doubts. Sort of encouraging for us, isn’t it? John’s saying, “I hear about You performing miracle after miracle. But while You’re at it, cousin, how about getting me out of this prison cell I’ve been in for months?” 

You and I have the advantage of 20/20 hindsight when it comes to what Jesus was doing. John didn’t enjoy that privilege. John had been proclaiming judgment, but Jesus was doing deeds of love and mercy. John had promised that the kingdom was at hand, but there’s scant evidence of that so far. John was so confident after he baptized Jesus that he said to his two disciples, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29, NASB).

John was perplexed about God’s plan and his place in it. These facts do not add up to doubt, but rather, I would suggest, to bewilderment, mystification, impatience and disenchantment.

Perhaps you’ve been struggling with guilt because you feel as if you are doubting the Lord. Maybe John’s experience would remind you today that it isn’t so much doubt you are dealing with but perplexity at what is taking place around you.

2. When you feel disenchanted, anticipate an answer (Luke 7:21-22).

As is often the case, Jesus doesn’t always answer questions directly. His answers are sometimes in parables, sometimes in stories, sometimes in circumstances. In this case, the answer for John the Baptist consisted of deeds performed before the eyes of His messengers.

At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind. And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the gospel preached to them (Luke 7:21-22).

Then Jesus starts quoting from Isaiah 35 and Isaiah 61. Now, John knew his Bible. Jesus knew even in quoting that little section from Isaiah 35:5 that John was going to start thinking about Isaiah 35:4-10, that whole passage. And do you know what it’s about? It’s all about what the Messiah is going to be like when He comes. And He quotes Isaiah 61:1-3. And do you know what that passage is about? It’s all about what the Messiah is going to be like when He comes. And guess what? Those two passages say that when the Messiah comes, He’s going to do all the things Jesus just did in front of John’s disciples!

We all need reminders from time to time. Part of living in a broken world is keeping our eyes focused on what does not change. The Word of God is still true! God is still on His throne! Even when we have disappointments, disorientation, disenchantment, discomfort and discouragement, God is still in charge. We need to step back from time to time and recall that the Word of God is still in effect.

John had to believe all that Jesus did in fulfillment of His Word until he could come to understand what Jesus was doing in his life. And you know what? That’s exactly what you have to do, too. Sometimes you have no idea what Jesus is doing in your life, but when you’re there, Jesus says, “Look at what I’ve already done, and look at what I’ve done in fulfillment of the Word of God, and you believe Me until you come to the day that you understand what I’m doing. Because I don’t just make claims, I fulfill Scripture, and I will not break My promises.”

 When you feel disenchanted, keep believing (Luke 7:23).

Jesus’ final word to John seems a bit harsh to some ears: “Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me” (Luke 7:23). The Greek word translated offense gives us our English word scandalize, and it referred originally to the “bait stick” in a trap. John was in danger of being trapped because of his concern about what Jesus was not doing. He was stumbling over his Lord and His ministry. Jesus gently told him to have faith, for his Lord knew what He was doing.

Jesus is saying, happy is the person who doesn’t get tripped up or upset or confused by what I say or do, or by what I don’t say or do. Many do, you know. You may have been offended by God at some point in your life, and can’t seem to get past that. Your spouse left you utterly alone. You prayed and prayed, but your grandfather died anyway. You can’t understand why God would do this to you. You can’t believe God would have us experience a worldwide pandemic. You are upset at God, and because of this, you can’t seem to grow in your spiritual life. You are stuck.

Jesus puts it to you today: “Blessed is the person who isn’t offended on account of Me.” He came to earth as the unique Son of God to reach out to you. He gave His life so you could be forgiven and reborn. If you and I can grasp even a hint of the nature of this blessing, we would awaken every day with a song in our hearts. We would face every trial with confidence. We would live every day desiring to cooperate with God’s Spirit to see the fruit of His love manifested in our hearts, our character and our actions. And though doubts will probably still come from time to time, they won’t last long.

Jeff Cranston is the lead pastor of LowCountry Community Church in Bluffton, S.C.

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