Present Standpoint

Having dealt with the first of three standpoints, let’s turn to the second one.

With keen interest, we go directly into the second standpoint which has been named as, the Present.

Where is John at present? He has been imprisoned by King Herod. John has been removed from his work and confined to a prison cell. He is no longer able to meet Jesus along the road, since he is no longer able to traverse any street. He has been made a confined man. It is in this confinement, this imprisonment that his disciples keep him informed about Jesus and what He is doing.

Works of Jesus

Jesus has been preaching and teaching the crowds just like John, so that the transition is seamless. John is incarcerated and straightaway Jesus picks up the Gospel work, preaching and telling people to repent of their sins. However, Jesus is doing much more in terms of healing people. He is doing miracles, not recorded as being done by John. Jesus’ last miracle really has the people in fear and awe, when He raises a dead man to life. This news spreads like wildfire. A great prophet has risen up among us; and, God has visited His people. Luke 7:  16b. This report about Jesus spreads far and wide, all through Judea and its surrounding region.

The news even reaches John in prison. When John hears how Jesus is spending His time among the people and how He is being talked about as a great Healer, John becomes a bit concerned. It’s here that he begins to be pestered with doubts about who this Man from Galilee really is. Jesus’ public works among the sick, the infirmed, the outcast, the marginalized and the poor, are not settling with John. It is troubling him and noticeably so, for he sends two of his disciples directly to Jesus. John is being tempted to move away from his beliefs about Jesus, as he begins to question all that he so firmly believes. Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another? Luke 7: 19b.

It is clear that the malady of wavering and doubting is hitting John in this time of his life. The ugly deceiver has made his move and wants John to yield. 

That same ugly, slick and clever deceiver has already made a move on you also, as you are feeling this malady. You know who Jesus is, but suddenly, you begin to think, rethink and overthink, not even realizing what the deceiver is trying to do to you. Learn from John. Do not hide it or try to pretend that it is not happening to you. The devil does not care whom he tempts. He has no favourites in this matter. He wants all who are not his, to become his and remain his. John came out in the open and sent to ask Jesus outright. He never asked anyone else, but the Man Jesus Himself. 

Words of Jesus

Jesus knows that John is in prison. He knows that his freedom has been taken from him to preach, teach and baptize, as he had been doing.  Jesus does not in any way feel slighted by cousin John’s question. He understands and responds according to His unsurpassed wisdom.

As it happened, the two sent disciples of John approached Jesus just as He was healing people. And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight. Luke 7: 21. This was no planned meeting or timing, either on the part of John, or his disciples. In fact, it was nothing set and staged by Jesus Himself. Don’t you see the Spirit at work? Jesus is doing His daily, everyday work of helping people, when John’s disciples arrive. They catch Jesus in the act as it were, the act of healing all manner of ailments, sicknesses and disorders. Before John’s disciples can even deliver his message to Jesus, their eyes see it all. The Healer and Helper is at work.

Tomorrow, we shall delve into John’s question.