Observation: From prison, John the Baptist sends two disciples to ask Jesus if he is in fact the Messiah. Jesus will answer with teaching John will clearly understand ... that in fact Jesus is doing everything that the prophets said Messiah would do, just as John himself has done what the one who would prepare the way would do, as the prophets declared.
John knew Jesus was the Messiah. This had been revealed to him when he was in the midst of his ministry. John declared Jesus was Messiah when he came to him at the Jordan, stating that he himself was unworthy to wash Jesus' feet let alone baptize him. John twice more pointed out to his disciples that Jesus was the Messiah, and when his disciples left him for Jesus he even encouraged it, stating the time had come for himself to become lesser as Jesus becomes greater.
And yet, with Jesus' ministry proceeding forward, from prison John has doubts and needs to ask ... is Jesus really Messiah, or is he actually the preparer of the way and there is yet another to come. By asking this, the question is not so much doubting Jesus as Messiah, but rather ... John is doubting himself, and wondering if he was really the prophet preparing the way.
John doubts his own calling. He wonders ... was I really doing what God wanted me to do? Was I making a difference? Did I really understand the task the Lord gave me? Even if I was obedient, was what I did even important, or was it just another minor act of faith? Did my calling really mean anything at all?
Jesus answers in verses 24-28. John was the one predicted by the prophets, he was doing even greater kingdom work than anyone before him, and he was indeed the one foretold to prepare the way for Messiah himself. John probably knew that when he was doing it, but alone in prison ... he needs the Lord's help to believe it.
Application: Everything about how myself and many Christians relate to God is upside down. I believe so much of my life is about me and my actions and my abilities, when the truth is that I only exist to serve the Lord and make Jesus known to others. On the other hand, when I do the Lord's work, I am very likely to consider it small or worthless or insignificant in the context of the world, when the truth is that the Lord himself is pleased that I have followed his word.
I get so much of this backwards. I feel I do so out of pride. I want my life to be about me, and my work to be by my hand. When it comes to the Lord's work, I want the results to be huge and visible. The truth is, my life is small and should never be about me, and the work I do for the Lord is huge even if no one really knows about it as long as I am obedient.
John was of course questioning his meaning out of his great humility, and likely also out of the fear and sadness of his imprisonment and impending execution. However, he still modeled the truth for us, that we all wonder about our place in God's kingdom and in God's work and purpose in the world. I would just like to keep my mind aligned to the Lord, and accept the proper perspective on my daily work.
Prayer: Lord, I thank you for your corrective words and guidance in my life. More and more each day, I desire to do little things you call me to do, and to know that everything I do is out of your love and wisdom. My life must not be about me. I must become lesser, as you become greater in my life. Amen.
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