MARCH 2, 2023
“And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?” (Luke 7:19)
The message which John sent to our Lord in this passage is most instructive when we consider the circumstances under which it was sent. John the Baptist was now a prisoner in the hands of Herod. “He heard in the prison the works of Christ.” (Matt. 11:2) His life was drawing to a close. His opportunities for active ministry were ended. The great forerunner was soon to be executed. Many believe that it is for this very reason that he sends two of his disciples to Jesus to ask Him if He is indeed the Christ. John had certainly declared that He was the Messiah. He had boldly introduced Him to his own followers as“The Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the word.” Was John now having second thoughts? Was he now, because of his imprisonment, and the fact that he would be so soon cut off, actually thinking he might have been deceived? I think we can safely dismiss that notion as to why he sent his disciples to Jesus to make this enquiry. John knew and was at perfect peace with the reality that the“friend of the Bridegroom” must decrease so that the Bridegroom Himself should increase.
What we see here is that even in those dark days, with either long imprisonment or a violent death as the only prospects before him, this great and holy man of God maintained his unwavering stand as a witness to Jesus Christ. This is what he did while he was a preacher at liberty and sending men to Christ was one of his last works as a prisoner in bonds.
We need to mark the wise forethought which John exhibited concerning his disciples before leaving this world. The next day after John saw Jesus coming to him and declared Him to be the Lamb of God; he instructed two of his disciples to follow Jesus. The Jews were “barking up the wrong tree” when they tried to stir up jealousy in John’s heart. It was his great honor to see his disciples follow Jesus, and what he intends in sending two of them to Jesus with this question is that they should be thoroughly convinced that Jesus is the Christ. He, doubtless, calculated that they would receive from Him such an answer as would make an indelible impression on their minds. And he was right. They got an answer in deeds as well as words; an answer which, no doubt, produced a deeper effect than any arguments which they could have received from their master.
What was this all about? We can easily imagine that John the Baptist must have felt somewhat anxious about the future course of his disciples. He knew the weakness of their faith. This he saw when they were manipulated into feelings of jealousy and envy toward Jesus’ disciples. He knew how likely it was that a petty party-spirit might creep in and cause them to keep aloof from Christ after their teacher was dead and gone. Against this unwise and unhappy state of things, he makes provision as far as possible while he is yet alive. How confident John is, as he sends these men to Jesus, that they shall see for themselves what kind of teacher He is. He takes care to provide them with the strongest possible evidence that Jesus is indeed the Messiah. “Never man spake as this man,” and John, now perceiving that he must soon leave them, strives to leave them with the greatest hope, which, becoming personally acquainted with Jesus would surely secure.
In answer to their question, “Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?” Jesus did not simply say, “I am He.” He instead spoke of his mighty works, such as John had heard about in prison. He said, “Tell John…how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.” This is indeed the Christ. Come unto Him and see for yourself! (John 1:39)
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