John the Baptist asked “Are you the One?”
Matthew 11:1-6 NCV: After Jesus finished telling these things to his twelve followers, he left there and went to the town in Galilee to teach and preach. John the Baptist was in prison, but he heard about what Christ was doing. So John sent some of his followers to Jesus. They asked him, “Are you the One who is to come, or should we wait for someone else?” Jesus answered them, “Go tell John what you hear and see: The blind can see, the crippled can walk, and the people with skin diseases are healed. The deaf can hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is preached to the poor. Those who do not stumble in their faith because of me are blessed.”
Why was John the Baptist in prison?
Matthew 14:3-5 NCV: Sometimes before this, Herod had arrested John, tied him up, and put him into prison. Herod did this because of Herodias, who had been the wife of Philip, Herod’s brother. John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful (not permitted) for you to be married to Herodias.” Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they believed John was a prophet.
Now John the Baptist had heard what Jesus was doing. He asked question if Jesus is the One or should he look for another. Have you wonder why John seems to be in doubt whether or not if Christ was the really Messiah? John wondered why he was in prison when he may have thought Christ came to rule and John the Baptist would be set free from prison, but Jesus didn’t do that. John may have been in doubt if he had truly introduced the “right Messiah”.
Jesus understood John the Baptist and told his followers to tell him the Good News. The powerful proof that Jesus could give to John the Baptist was miracle of healings that had never been done before. This would prove He is the Christ and helped John to believe that God was doing His work, His way. John the Baptist was satisfied and later on he died.
Have you ever been in doubt of Him whether He is Christ or not? Jesus’ answer is simple, “Search the Scriptures for they speak of Me.” Now all 66 books of the Bible do speak of Christ. Jesus encourages us to search and study the Scriptures to help us believe, and not be in doubt. The Bible is a wonderful book to study and helps us to “see” God in action and Holy Spirit makes the Word of God alive in our hearts and in our spirits. May God bless you today.
