“Should We Look for Someone else?”

“Should We Look for Someone Else?”
Luke 7:18-30
September 7, 2025

Apologist Randy Newman wrote an open letter to believers in Christ who struggle with doubt:

Sometimes doubt comes upon me like a foreboding cold. I wonder if that was just a sneeze or am I coming down with something serious. The sniffles of doubt increase when I read of natural disasters that bring unfathomable suffering. Where was God during that hurricane? Other symptoms of wavering faith show up when famous Christians espouse heresy or reveal double lives of staggering immorality. I dare to ask, Does this Christianity stuff really work?

That is an acknowledgment that living in these fleshly bodies, even when we believe, we still struggle at times with unbelief (Mk. 9:24). 

In Jesus’ ministry, there were frequent questions about Christ’s identity and even more, whether He really was the promised Messiah.  When Jesus entered Jerusalem prior to His passion week, the entire city was asking the question “Who is this?” (Mt. 21:10).  The scribes and the Pharisees asked that same question in the form of an accusation — “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?” (Lk. 5:21).  We will see a similar question (without accusation) at the end of this chapter (7:49). 

Even those who were close to Him were curious, uncertain, and at times, questioning and doubting:

• After He calmed a storm on the Sea of Galilee, the disciples asked, “Who then is this that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” (Mk. 4:41). They didn’t yet understand His identity…
• Thomas after hearing from his dearest friends of the resurrection of Christ responded, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe” (Jn. 20:25).
• Even the chosen forerunner of Christ, John the Baptist, had questions — “Are you the expected One, or do we look for someone else?” (Lk. 7:19).

John’s question anticipates questions we sometimes have — because of hard circumstances and apparent silence from God, we are tempted to think, “Maybe Jesus isn’t enough.  Maybe salvation isn’t as powerful as I’ve thought.  Maybe God has other solutions and provisions.  Maybe I need to keep looking and try something else.” 

This morning’s account in Luke 7 answers those doubts definitively.  Remember that in these opening chapters of Luke, in Jesus’ ministry in Galilee, Luke is revealing Jesus as the Son of Man; Luke is authenticating Christ’s claim as the Messiah by what He said and taught, as well as by what He did (words and works).  And in this passage (7:18-30) Luke addresses this question about doubts in that same way — Jesus’ words and works provides the answer for John’s (and our) doubts.  We can summarize it:

Be confident that Christ is the Christ because Christ did what only the Christ can do.

When doubts arise, be confident that Jesus is exactly who He claimed to be — the Son of Man and the Messiah who has come to earth to fulfill the promise of God and provide our redemption. 

In recent passages we have seen Christ’s compassion for people — He cares.  But He is more than just caring; He is God incarnate.  He is everything John needed, the disciples needed, and we need.  Let’s observe Christ’s provision for our doubts and fears in three interactions.

1. When Doubts Arise… (vv. 18-23) 
2. Remember the Greatest One (vv. 24-28)
3. Beware of Not Believing (vv. 29-30)

Download the rest of this sermon on Luke 7:18-30.

The audio will be posted on the GBC website by Tuesday.

“Palace Remnants” by spdl_n1 is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.