Jesus, Are You the One?
John the Baptist has been in prison for some time. He begins to wonder. “Jesus, are You the one to come, or do we look for another?”
With ALL the confirmation John received over his lifetime, doubt still crept in. John was in a HARD place. He is probably thinking; “Surely the Messiah will overthrow the government soon, and get me out of here.”
John is allowed some visitors; even his disciples. He sends his burning question with them to Jesus. He receives an answer, but not a change in his circumstances. Let’s take a sidestep into prison with John today and watch his struggle.
Holy Spirit, lead the way today in Your story. Show me what You want me to glean from it and how to apply it to my life. I struggle at times, just like John. And You care about that struggle.
♥ ♦ ♥
It feels like forever since John felt the warm sun on his face, the breeze off the water, the sand under his feet, and the lap of the water as it swelled around him while he baptized people.
“What did I do wrong Lord? Why am I here in this prison cell? Did I make a mistake and identify the wrong man? You gave me a sign to look for. And I SAW it. But…”
The sound of the key in the lock of the outer door brings John out of his thoughts. He looks up in anticipation. He knows it is not meal time. He is hoping it is a visitor. He hasn’t seen anyone, besides his keepers, in over a week. If they talk to him at all it is to harass him. There is one guard who is kind to him, but most of the time, he is left alone with his growing despair.
John’s eyes light up as he sees two of his disciples, Micah and James, come through the door. “Finally, a friendly face” he thinks to himself. He dare not call out or the guards might decide to keep them from returning.
John’s disciples approach his cell. John moves as close to the door as the chain around his ankle will allow. “I would hug you, if I could” John says with a smile.
James looks over his shoulder, to ensure the guards are not watching. When he is sure he is safe, he stretches his arm through the bar and touches fingertips with his teacher. After that brief touch, he withdraws his arm before the guards see.
John’s eyes brim with tears but he quickly blinks them away. Best not to let the guards see his vulnerability.
“Tell me what is going on in the world” John says as he retreats a few steps so that the shackle doesn’t hurt his ankle as much.
“We have been hearing reports of more people following Jesus. We have been staying nearby here, hoping for as much time with you as possible.”
“How are you getting in at all? I figured Herod has me so far down here so no one could find me.”
The disciples look at one another with a touch of shame. “We bribed the guards” Micah say.
John’s face falls. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to cause you hardship.”
“It’s NOT a hardship, teacher. It is an honor to serve you.”
John thinks for a minute. “Maybe you should only approach Mathias. He is kind to me and actually asks me to speak to him of my work. If he were not Roman, I would say he could well be a God-fearing Jew.”
“We will make it a point to seek him out in the future.”
The friends talk for almost an hour before they hear the key again. Quickly, before the guard enters, John gives his disciples a charge.
“Seek out Jesus. When you find Him ask Him this; ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’ (Matthew 11:3).”
“We will go immediately and bring you back word once we have an answer.”
John watches with burgeoning hope as his disciples are escorted from the prison. “At least they are free to bring me word.”
Micah and James meet up with two other disciples who have remained dedicated to John.
“The teacher has asked us to find Jesus and ask Him a question. ‘If He is the one that was promised or if we are to wait for another.’”
Andrew and Saul are excited to join in the mission. “I have heard that Jesus is teaching near Capernaum. I think that is where our search should begin.”
That settled, the four men start on their journey.
John waits in prison for word. He has no idea how long it will take to receive an answer. He begins thinking about that answer though and what it will mean. “If He says to seek another, I don’t know where my disciples should look. IF there is another, will he release me from prison?” Then another thought takes root in John’s heart. “IF Jesus IS the One, then I need to release my disciples and urge them to follow Him. I may never see the light of day again. And they need a teacher. Surely, Jesus would welcome them.”
John’s disciples arrive in Capernaum a week later. They have no trouble locating where Jesus is teaching. That is all anyone seems to be able to talk about. They arrive and find Jesus ministering to a large group of people.
“Maybe we should wait and talk to Him when He is alone” Micah suggests.
“I don’t think He is EVER alone. We just have to be patient.”
After a few minutes, Jesus looks directly at John’s disciples. “Come to Me” He says while holding His hand out towards them. They quickly comply. Jesus smiles as they approach. He knows their hearts.
“You have a question for Me” He says. Not a question, but a statement.
James speaks up. “We have come from visiting John in prison. He asked us to bring You a question. ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’.”
Jesus nods His head several times. “I see. Here is what you are to do; ‘Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.’ (Matthew 11:4-6).”
John’s disciples accept Jesus’ assignment. They will do just that! As they turn to leave, they hear Jesus speaking to the crowd. They stop and listen before beginning their journey.
“What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written:
“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’
“Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. Whoever has ears, let them hear” (Matthew 11:9-15).
John’s disciples are both overjoyed and perplexed. Jesus clearly said that John was the forerunner promised, but how is he to be least in the Kingdom of Heaven? They keep listening. Maybe they will have something else to take back to John.
Jesus shakes His head and continues.
“To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
“‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds” (Matthew 11:16-18).
John’s disciples’ heads begin to nod. They have heard these things said about their teacher. And they KNOW them to be false!
Jesus voice fills with anger. He begins to call out against the towns who have seen His miracles, yet didn’t believe. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you” (Matthew 11:21-24).
John’s disciples’ eyes go wide. This is STRONG words for the people. Strong words for them as well. Do they believe, after seeing all that Jesus has done?
Jesus looks towards heaven. “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do” (Matthew 11:25-26).
Jesus looks out at the crowd again. “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him” (Matthew 11:27).
MANY eyes go wide! Jesus just said that He is the Son of God! John’s disciples don’t miss this implication. Their excitement, and report, keeps getting better and better.
Jesus’ eyes fill with compassion as He calls out to the people. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
After saying this, Jesus welcomes to Himself all those who crowd in around Him. John’s disciples look at one another. They have enough evidence to take back to their teacher. They don’t want to, but they tear themselves away from Jesus and hurry back to Jerusalem where John waits in prison.
John has been praying since his disciples left. He prays for their safety. He prays for an answer to his question. And he prays that they find comfort in the answer they receive. They arrive back a little over two weeks after being sent on their mission.
Micah and Andrew are the ones bringing the news to John. He waits as they are led into the outer room. He waits patiently until the guards withdraw back through the door. Once the outer door closes, John moves to the front of his cell and his disciples move over to the door. Before John can speak, Andrew launches into their adventure.
“Teacher, we have seen Jesus. He told us to bring you these words; ‘Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.’”
John sighs. This is what he has expected. He prepares his heart to release his disciples.
“Teacher, that’s not all! We heard Jesus speaking to the people concerning you. He said that you are the Elijah who was to come. He also spoke to the Lord and addressed Him as ‘Father’ and called Himself His Son!”
John’s eyes light up. This is the answer to his question in full. Jesus IS the Christ; the Messiah. He will release his disciples without any reservation.
“I want you to listen to me. I don’t know what it to become of me. I probably will not see the light of day again. I know that I have to decrease as He increases. I want you to promise me something.”
Both men nod their heads.
“Promise me that, when my life ends, you will seek Jesus and follow Him. I know I am being selfish is saying to wait until my life ends, but you are the only comfort left to me in this world.”
“We will gladly remain by your side and PRAY that the Lord delivers you from this prison.”
“I pray for the same release, but I believe that I am where I am supposed to be in the Lord’s plan. Do NOT become angry or bitter, if your prayers are not answered. Go to Jesus and faithfully follow Him.”
“We will” both men answer at the same time.
“Make sure the others do the same thing. Jesus IS the One that was promised. The Messiah. You will find life in Him.”
John’s disciples are allowed an hour with him again this day and it is filled with hope. When their visit ends, John vows to keep fighting the good fight from where he is. Mathias is John’s next recipient of the good news about Jesus.
(to be continued)
We are told that Jesus makes His remarks to the crowd as John’s disciples were leaving. I can’t imagine them setting off without hearing what He has to say about their teacher. I think they probably heard John’s name being mentioned and hurried back to hear the rest of what Jesus had to say.
I wonder how many people missed Jesus’ declaration of Himself as God’s Son. He said; “Whoever has ears, let them hear” (Matthew 11:15). How many actually heard? I wonder if John’s disciples made it long enough to hear Jesus’ proclamation. I hope so. I hope it brought peace to John the Baptist’s mind.
Father God, THANK YOU for sending Jesus! Thank You for clearly telling us who Jesus was, is, and forever will be. THAT I will NEVER doubt! I get to wondering about my direction in life at times, but NEVER about You, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit. Our relationship is REAL.
Holy Spirit, I LOVE when You fill my heart during praise and worship times. When You speak for me to the Father; words that I don’t even know how to bring to Him. I’m sorry for the times I hide our special times from my mother-in-law and my husband. They don’t understand Your presence and the depth that lies in it. I pray that You will open their eyes someday to the richness You have for them. I’m not sure how that would happen with my husband’s mental state being what it is. I leave that in Your hands.
Father God, I leave both these precious people in Your hands. Bless our days, months, and years together that are left.
