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John the Baptist questions Christ, are you the Coming One?

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Matthew 11:2-6 Luke 7:19-23
2But when John heard in the prison of the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples. 3And they said to Him, Are You he who should come, or do we look for another? 4Jesus answered and said to them, Go and tell John again those things which you hear and see: 5the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear; the dead are raised, and the poor have the gospel proclaimed to them. 6And blessed is he, whoever shall not be offended in Me .
MKJV
 19And John, calling near a certain two of his disciples, sent them to Jesus, saying, Are You He that should come, or do we look for another? 20And coming to Him, the men said, John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, Are You He who should come, or do we look for another? 21And in the same hour He cured many of infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits. And He gave sight to many who were blind. 22And answering, Jesus said to them, Go and tell John what you have seen and heard; that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the gospel is proclaimed to the poor. 23And blessed is he who shall not be offended in Me.
MKJV
Insights
  • John the Baptist was now in prison, for Herod had him put in prison for speaking the truth against him, Matthew 14:3. When circumstances turn against you it can become very easy to doubt. For in earlier chapters, John had proclaimed that Jesus was the Christ, John 1:29-34 & John 3:26-30.
  • Perhaps John also thought, as did most of Jesus disciples, that Jesus, the Messiah, would come and establish His kingdom on earth in their lifetime.
  • Jesus answered John, not with a word of affirmation, but by pointing him back to the Word, Isaiah 35:5-6, to believe by faith. Talk is cheap, but the Word of God remains forever and is never changing.
  • These were OT. scriptures that John most-likely knew very well, and by pointing John back to God's Word would become a greater and more lasting affirmation than a few flattering words spoken.
  • After John's disciples had left, Jesus then began to speak words about John to the multitudes concerning John, that he was a great prophet. Even through John had doubt at that moment, Jesus did not berate John for it. We all doubt at times, in this life we have highs and lows. As scripture tells us, Do not judge, lest you be judged by your own judgment, Matthew 7:1-2.