“Go And Tell John

What You Hear And See”

Now when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and proclaim his message in their cities.

When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see; the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”

Matthew 11:1-6

John the Baptist was languishing in prison and questioning his faith. He wondered if Jesus was the Messiah, was His word true or was he just laboring in vain. He might have wondered if the dark walls of prison were to be his final reward for answering God’s call. And as he questioned whether Jesus was the Messiah, he wanted to know if his own sins had been forgiven, could he trust the Bible, and whether his own reward was in heaven. He wanted to know if it had all been just a cruel illusion.

Most of us ask the same questions from time to time. We ask when there are dark days when circumstances bring sorrow and bitter disappointment to our lives, when it seems that there is no story book ending to our lives. These questionings are not failures of faith but tests of faith and can be answered in John the Baptist’s way: We must take our doubts to Jesus. In His time and in His own wise way He will restore the confidence our hearts desire. Jesus did not abandon John to his doubt. He sent word of the miracles He performed and the hope He preached.

Never doubt in the dark what God has shown you in the light.

Our Daily Bread – April 14, 2008