Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
In prison John could not hear Jesus' gracious words for himself nor witness His mighty works, but he heard about them through his disciples, who reported what they had seen and heard, and their reports comforted him. John, who had first heralded Christ's kingdom, had been imprisoned by Herod Antipas at Herodias's urging after faithfully denouncing Herod's unlawful marriage to his brother's wife. Herod had feared and respected John and at times had gladly listened to his preaching, but Herodias sought revenge against him.
John expected the Messiah to establish a temporal kingdom by publicly proclaiming Himself as Saviour of the world, openly assuming kingly authority, taking David's throne in Jerusalem, overthrowing oppressive power and subduing the Romans, and bringing judgment. Jesus' work of healing and teaching rather than political action did not fulfill that expectation and left John perplexed. Confinement, hardship, and lack of change left him despondent, discouraged, impatient, and troubled with doubts about whether Jesus was the Messiah.
His disciples' questions about why Jesus did not free His faithful herald deepened his perplexity, and he hoped Jesus would use His power to release him. Shut in a lonely prison dungeon, he sent two of his disciples to Jesus to ask whether He was the One who should come or they should look for another. Jesus knew their errand and answered with a mighty demonstration of power giving unmistakable evidence of His divinity.
He caused the deaf to hear, opened the eyes of the blind, removed fever by His touch, and healed demoniacs by His command until they fell at His feet and worshiped Him, then bade the messengers report to John what they saw and heard. The same Jesus remains Saviour today and is as willing to manifest His power for believers as He was for John. So when hedged about by adverse circumstances and difficulties that seem impossible to surmount, believers are not to murmur but to remember past loving-kindnesses and, looking to Jesus, endure with minds kept from the shadow of unbelief.
In prison John could not hear Jesus' gracious words for himself nor witness His mighty works, but he heard about them through his disciples, who reported what they had seen and heard, and their reports comforted him. John, who had first heralded Christ's kingdom, had been imprisoned by Herod Antipas at Herodias's urging after faithfully denouncing Herod's unlawful marriage to his brother's wife. Herod had feared and respected John and at times had gladly listened to his preaching, but Herodias sought revenge against him.
John expected the Messiah to establish a temporal kingdom by publicly proclaiming Himself as Saviour of the world, openly assuming kingly authority, taking David's throne in Jerusalem, overthrowing oppressive power and subduing the Romans, and bringing judgment. Jesus' work of healing and teaching rather than political action did not fulfill that expectation and left John perplexed. Confinement, hardship, and lack of change left him despondent, discouraged, impatient, and troubled with doubts about whether Jesus was the Messiah.
His disciples' questions about why Jesus did not free His faithful herald deepened his perplexity, and he hoped Jesus would use His power to release him. Shut in a lonely prison dungeon, he sent two of his disciples to Jesus to ask whether He was the One who should come or they should look for another. Jesus knew their errand and answered with a mighty demonstration of power giving unmistakable evidence of His divinity.
He caused the deaf to hear, opened the eyes of the blind, removed fever by His touch, and healed demoniacs by His command until they fell at His feet and worshiped Him, then bade the messengers report to John what they saw and heard. The same Jesus remains Saviour today and is as willing to manifest His power for believers as He was for John. So when hedged about by adverse circumstances and difficulties that seem impossible to surmount, believers are not to murmur but to remember past loving-kindnesses and, looking to Jesus, endure with minds kept from the shadow of unbelief.