John 1:29-34
John Testifies About Jesus
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”
32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”
Matthew 11:2-6
John the Baptist in Prison
2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 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. 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Remains the Truth
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Over time things change in our lives...How we see the world as we get older may change us...When we have more information about something or different things -this may change our minds and alter our thinking...Also when our circumstances change over time as events in our lives change we may change...As things change and we age we may think a little differently (than when we were younger) depending on where we are and what we now know...And maybe when our circumstances take a downturn and dramatically, we may lose some of our our faith and doubt may come in our mind and our thinking...
John the Baptist was God's hand-picked messenger to usher in His Son...John spent most of his time helping people learn about God and the Messiah...John the Baptist was very popular and even had a following and his own disciples...He taught many about God and the Anointed One...John was very confident and knew that Jesus was the Lamb of God...And it seems when John the Baptist introduced Jesus to the world he completely believed that Jesus was the One the Prophets wrote about as the Christ...
Then his circumstances changed...He was thrown into prison...Some accounts say John was in prison for approximately two years...The stress of prison may have been why John sent his disciples to ask Jesus if He was the One to come or should we expect Someone else...
Jesus knew of John's circumstances -and that he was in prison for quite some time...John now questioned who Jesus was (now that he was in prison)...Jesus could have said "Why does he doubt" or something similar to this...Out of LOVE for His friend and cousin, when ask about who He was by John through his disciples, Jesus said “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.”...
These words would be comforting and encouraging to John the Baptist...The one who God sent to introduce His Son had doubts...When circumstances in our lives change maybe we change just a little (or maybe we change a lot)...Our thinking changes...Sometimes events can overwhelm us...Our faith can get tested in these times...John was tested...When we have trials and troubles in our lives, let us think of John the Baptist, and remember even the great ones of faith are tested in their own troubles and their own trials...Let us take heart and encouragement in John the Baptist...John turned to Jesus in His time of trials...Let us do the same...
No matter what the circumstances, let us also remember the Truth remains the same, yesterday and today and forever...