It is hard to believe that a man like John Baptist could ever become despondent, but it is true. John is in prison. He is paying the price for denouncing King Herod’s adultery. On that sad day from his prison cell he sent two of his friends to Jesus with the question, ‘Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?’, Luke 7. 19. ‘Art thou he?’ Is this the same John who, but a few months earlier, had proclaimed with power to the crowds, ‘This is he’, John 1. 30?
No believer would be critical of John, and certainly not in his hour of need, but we are entitled to ask the reason for his despondency and his doubt. The answer is not hard to find. John had preached Jesus as the promised Messiah. Was it not written of Messiah that He would proclaim liberty to the captives and set the prisoner free? If Jesus of Nazareth really was that promised One why should His ambassador and friend languish in prison? It seemed a reasonable question.
Jesus seemed at first to ignore the messengers. He continued to minister to the afflicted. He healed their infirmities and their plagues. He cast out demons and gave sight to their blind. Only then did He turn to John’s disciples. ‘Go your way’, He said, ‘tell John what things ye have seen and heard’. The blind were seeing; the lame were walking; the lepers were being cleansed; the deaf were hearing; the dead were being raised; and the poor were hearing the glad tidings. ‘Tell John’, the Saviour says.
Our Lord has given us the antidote to doubting. It is occupation with Himself and with His word. His message would send John back to the prophecies which he knew so well. He would find them unchanged and know that they were being fulfilled in Jesus. John was occupied with himself and his circumstances. He must become occupied with Christ and with His word. The message is still the same for those in doubt. The Person and the word never change.
John never was released. At the whim of an evil and sullen woman, and at the command of a weak acquiescent monarch, he was beheaded. It was a sad day. His disciples took up the body and went and told Jesus. His faithful herald was dead.
