What a Question!

When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? Luke 7:20 (KJV)

Not sure why John the Baptist asked this question. He bore witness that he was unable to untie Jesus’ shoe latches, said he must decrease and Jesus would increase, said he is baptising with water but, He that is to come will baptise with the Holy Ghost power, said he is only the voice in the wilderness, saying prepare the way of the Lord, said there is one among you whom you do not know of, told Jesus that he would rather be baptised by Him instead of him baptising Jesus, told the crowd, “behold the Son of God who takes away the sins of the world”, defended Jesus when told his disciples were baptising more people than him. Luke 3; Matthew 3

John the Baptist was bold and fearless, uncompromising in every way. The whole city went out to Jordan to hear him. He preached a message that modern-day ministers dread to preach. Matthew 3. He confronted sin head-on. He was a man of power and might. He knew his mission and remained focused on it. He gave Herod the bitter tablet to swallow, and it landed him in prison.

Did he forget too soon? What happened to his memory? He was still a young man at the time. How could he ever ask, “If Jesus is the one to come, or should we look for another?” What would have made John the Baptist ask this question?

 Ah! He asked this question from prison. Matthew 11:3. Luke 3:19-20. The prison might have dealt with John the Baptist. Anybody could ask the same question if someone like Herod put you in jail. It would not be the common prison. They would have tortured the hell out of his life, especially by daring to tell Herod not to have his brother’s wife. I can imagine!

John the Baptist knew Jesus as God, who is able to do all things. Matthew 3:7-12. Herod was the number one man, and his judgment could only be annulled by the authority of Jesus. So, did Jesus really know he was in prison, and if so, why wasn’t he freed?

This situation can come to anyone, especially when we’re serving God in truth and Spirit. Satan can cast anyone into the prison of life, and we might ask, “God, are you there?” Do you know what I’m going through? Is there anything else I need to do? You don’t need to do anything. God will never change, not even in our situations. He is ever-present and will deliver.

The prison takes one’s esteem, takes one out of touch with life. A place of repression and suffering. A place of emotional, physical and psychological graveyard. A place where you will question yourself. A place of doubt and fear. It makes you vulnerable.

We might be going through things as in John the Baptist’s case. Please do not let the prison take away what you have, which is what it’s meant to do. Whatever darkness, dungeon, suffering, loneliness, helplessness, hunger, peril or danger of death you are in now should not make you forget your identity in Christ. God is watching over you. He knows what you are going through because of your faith. We have learned from John the Baptist. Don’t let the hardships and prisons of life cast you in fear and doubts. The truth in you is still the truth; you will pull through.

Jesus commended John the Baptist so highly. You may not realise it, but there is a story and testimony of you in heaven. Pull through, child of God. Satan may come harder than you imagine. Be strong and of good courage. Trust God, He will see us through. Amen.