Alas, Scripture doesn’t tell us, so we’re just left to speculate.
Posted on 10/30/2025 5:57:36 AM PDT by metmom
“Now when John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, ‘Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?’” (Matthew 11:2–3).
That John the Baptist sent some of his disciples to Jesus testifies to his genuine faith. John was not seeking more information about Christ but confirmation. In essence, he asked, “Even though I firmly believed You are the Messiah, could I have been wrong?” It was the same attitude as the father of the boy the Lord had cleansed of an evil spirit—“I do believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24).
After being in prison for months, unable to minister and interact with the outside world except through periodic visits by his disciples, John had many doubts and uncertainties about Jesus. Those misgivings settled on his mind even though he had announced, baptized, and declared Jesus to be the Messiah.
This prompted John’s disciples to ask Jesus directly, “Are You the Expected One?” This was a common title for the Messiah, along with Branch, Son of David, and King of kings. The name first appears in Psalms 40:7 and 118:26, and the gospel writers often use it (e.g., Matt. 3:11; Mark 1:7; Luke 3:16; John 1:27). There was no mistaking the fact that John wanted to know for sure if Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah.
Many Christians today wrestle with doubt from time to time, so it should reassure them that one with the spiritual stature of John the Baptist also doubted. And it ought to encourage us, as we’ll see in the following days, that our doubts come for the same reasons as John’s—and we, like he, can overcome them.
Ask Yourself
What (if anything) has caused you to doubt the reality of God’s existence or the veracity of His promises?
How did He bring you through the maze and mist of uncertainty into a surer place of confidence?
What did you learn about Him and about yourself in the process?
Studying God’s Word ping
Poor interpretation.
John sent \his\ disciples to inquire of the Messiah.
John knew who Jesus was, his disciples were fixated on John the Baptizer being the chosen one.
John was NOT confused; his disciples were worried about their influence among the Hebrews.
Couldn’t be more clear ...
John 1:29
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
Was john 1:29 after john’s desciples had reported back to him? Because the desciples did adk Jesus, and Jesus did tell them to go tell HJohn that the proof of his lordship was in the miracles
They reported back to him after meeting with Christ who 5old them to tell john about the miracles that he was performing, about the blind seeing, the lame walking, the dead raised, the lepers cleansed, etc etc etc. They reported back to him the things they heard and saw with their own eyes.
John may have sent them with those questions, not because of his doubt, but to straighten out his disciples thinking.
It wouldn’t surprise me that John didn’t expect to get out of that jail alive, so his disciples needed to know who they should be following.
Alas, Scripture doesn’t tell us, so we’re just left to speculate.
Alas, Scripture doesn’t tell us, so we’re just left to speculate.
Lol!
And not read the article before commenting on the headline.
Some people seem to think that doubt is some kind of sin.
Lol!
And not read the article before commenting on the headline.
Some people seem to think that doubt is some kind of sin.
What (if anything) has caused you to doubt the reality of God’s existence or the veracity of His promises?
I sit out side with my coffee and look at God’s creation and think through the basics.
From the catechism: What is the chief aim of man? It is a two part answer.
:: to straighten out his disciples thinking. ::
Precisely the point.
\His\ disciples were worried about John’s legacy (and thereby, their own legacy).
In the end, we find some of John’s disciples leaving him and following the Christ.
As should be natural ... did John tell them to leave him and go follow the true Messiah?
... quite possibly.
:: Some people seem to think that doubt is some kind of sin. ::
You’d have to have some damn good arguments to convince me otherwise, Larry.
Hope you don’t see fear as a sin.
Few could go through what John went through and not have doubts.
Christ’s commendation of John and His reply to the questions are reassuring.
“We should FEAR, Love and Trust in God.”
Martin Luther, Smaller Catechism.
Fear is beneficial, in the correct understanding.
Doubt, OTOH, is /never/ comforting not is it attributed to God’s kindness.
Let’s not \\grumble\\ about this.
Lot of ambiguity here, as the RESULT of a condition (doubt, fear, unbelief, etc.) is of primary interest. Is the result for good, or bad/evil?
No grumbling from me - everyone’s journey is their own.
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