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The Problem of Unbelief & Doubt


Many scholars and members of churches misunderstand passages in the Bible. The reason is that to console some emotions people have about particular events, they change what really happened or move the context from where it belongs to another. There are many incidents within Christ's ministry where He confronted unbelief. Most remember when the Messiah could only do a few miracles in Nazareth because of their unbelief, "And because of their unbelief, he couldn't do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them." (Mark 6:5, Matthew 13:58). But there is another major incident of where unbelief hindered. Jesus Christ was heading to raise Lazarus from dead and reveal that He is the Resurrection and Life (John 11:25). In response to unbelief of those who did not believe the Lord could raise Lazarus, it says, "When Jesus saw her sobbing, and the Jews who came with her [also] sobbing, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. [He chafed in spirit and sighed and was disturbed.]" (John 11:33). It is from this disturbed state Jesus weeps in (verse 35). Many think Christ is sympathizing with mourners, but in truth, He is weeping because Martha, and many do not believe He is God and the Ressurection.

Then there is another incident of unbelief that really moves Jesus. When carrying His cross our Lord comes across a group of women weeping on His behalf. Again we in our reasoning suspect this is a good thing, that is shows the measure in which they loved Him; but it is actually a sign of unbelief. If they had believed what He said, "because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise." (Mark 9:31). Those who watched in horror as the Holy One carries His cross should bear in mind that He is going to rise from dead and they should have remembered Jesus had power to raise Lazarus from the dead (John 11:43-45). Because of this Jesus utters these words to the weeping women, "Daughters of Jerusalem, don't weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are coming when they will say, 'Fortunate indeed are the women who are childless, the wombs that have not borne a child and the breasts that have never nursed.' People will beg the mountains, 'Fall on us,' and plead with the hills, 'Bury us.' For if these things are done when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?" (Luke 23:28-31). These words are like a sword, for Jesus is not prophesying the coming of Titus in 70 A.D. as He did in Luke 21:20 but is chastising the unbelief of women and alluding to His Second coming when He will judge people, in fact the line He says to these women about people crying for mountains to fall on them cross references to the Second Coming, "They called to the mountains and the rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!" (Revelation 6:16). Jesus is rebuking these women for their unbelief.
There are other incidents of unbelief, even from the Disciples themselves. Jesus rebukes His disciples when they fail to caste a demon out of a boy, His response follows, "He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17;20). [Note: this faith moving mountains is connected to the rebuke Jesus has for weeping women in Luke 23:28-31]. Prior to this, Christ even encounters the father of child who is possessed by a demon and this conversation takes place, ""What do you mean, 'If I can'?" Jesus asked. "Anything is possible if a person believes. The father instantly cried out, "I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:23-24). The combination of the disciple's unbelief that they could caste out demon and unbelief of the father created a perfect storm for the child to remain in bondage. Jesus Christ allows this to show how powerful unbelief (lack of faith, little faith) has, it can hinder the work of God.

The Scriptures say, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (Hebrews 11:6). Faith is the opposite of unbelief. Thomas Aquinas once said, "To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible." How true, for unbelief if it takes root in someone's mind and heart can thwart any explanation and remedy; it is the anti-faith. The Apostle Peter in faith stepped out onto the sea of Galilee and walked on water, but then the waves and wind made him afraid and he began to sink, to which Jesus said, "Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. "You have so little faith," Jesus said. "Why did you doubt me?" (Matthew 14:31, NLT). Unbelief, little faith, and doubt are enemies of faith; and they will make people sink, weep, and doubt the power of God.


There is a reason Jesus says to His disciples, "You will be hated by everyone on account of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved." (Matthew 10:22). What is this perseverance? It is to keep believing, having faith and trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior, Lord, and God. It is to stand firm tell you repose or Jesus Returns. Unbelief wants to rob people of faith, and Jesus puts it most poignantly, "Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29). We face are greater battle with unbelief than the Disciples did; altogether despite their proximity, time with, and seeing miracles like the raising of Lazarus, Jesus' disciples doubted. So even seeing doesn't always curb doubt and unbelief, and that is why Jesus Christ is so flustered in many moments where His followers doubt after all they have beheld with their own eyes. We need to learn from these lessons our Lord has given. Stand firm in faith, hope, belief, and trust in Christ Jesus. Do not repeat the failures of those who doubted, but instead be dogmatic in your faith as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

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