John’s Questioning
TRANSLATION
(18) The disciples of John told him about all of these things. (19) Calling two of his disciples, John sent them to the Lord saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for someone else?” (20) And when (John’s disciples) came to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for someone else?’” (21) At that very time Jesus was healing many who had diseases, infirmities, and evil spirits, and was restoring the sight of those who were blind. (22) And he told them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard. The blind have their sight restored, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. (23) And blessed is the person who does not stumble because of me.”
OBSERVATIONS
Several words and phrases were repeated in these verses for the sake of emphasis. “John” occurred four times (in vss. 18, 20, & 22), “disciples” twice (vss. 18 & 19), and the question, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” was also repeated (vss. 19 & 20) as well as “blind” and “sight” (vss. 21 & 22). In the inquiries John’s disciples made and in the response that Jesus gave them we gain valuable insights into the ministries of both men.
OUTLINE
I. John sent two disciples to Jesus to ask him if he was truly the promised Messiah. (18-20)
II. Jesus’ response was designed to assure John that he was indeed the Messiah. (21-23)
IDEA STATEMENT
John, while in prison, sent messengers to Jesus regarding his messianic role and received assurances from him that, despite appearances to the contrary, God’s plan was still on track.
APPLICATION
John’s questioning the identity of Jesus has long puzzled readers of the Gospel accounts. We ask how John could have expressed doubt about Jesus’ ministry at this point. Was he not born for this purpose? Did he not know Jesus as his younger cousin as they grew up? Had he not already been a witness to the amazing ministry that Jesus was having in Galilee in the early stages of his ministry? What about the time when he baptized Jesus in the presence of the Trinity? What about the episode in John’s Gospel when he pointed Jesus out to his disciples with the words, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn.1:29)?
We quickly forget how failed expectations can undermine even the strongest expressions of faith. John had hoped that the Messiah he was introducing would immediately usher in God’s kingdom, overthrow Rome’s domination of Palestine, and restore righteousness to the nation of Israel. Instead, John had been seized by Herod and unjustly imprisoned for preaching against the king’s incestuous relationship with Herodias, his brother’s wife (Lk. 3:19 & 20). He had been holed up in a dungeon, prevented from doing the ministry to which he had clearly been called, and was awaiting his execution. Is it any wonder that John would harbor doubts regarding Jesus’ ministry? At least John sent messengers directly to Jesus to express his concerns. In communicating with Jesus, John received assurance that God’s plans had not been derailed. Events may not have been going the way John expected, but Jesus was quick to remind him that God would accomplish his purposes in his way and in his time.
So often the same thing happens to us. Unforeseen accidents, illnesses, and misguided expectations disrupt our lives and cause us to question God’s sovereign plan. When our hopes turn into disappointments, we can, like John, begin to wonder what God is doing. That is the precise moment when we, like John, need to present our concerns directly to God and receive from him the assurance that only he can give. He takes pleasure in comforting our hearts, assuaging our doubts, and giving us the confidence that his purposes will be carried out, perhaps not in the way we thought, but in ways that will still bring glory and honor to his mighty name if we will only trust him.