18 John's disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, 19 he sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"
Have any of you besides me faced discouraging times? If so, our text for today will be easy for us to relate to. John the Baptist had had a shooting star ministry lasting for no more than a year. Filled with the Spirit from birth and called to preach repentance and baptize the faithful, John was now finding himself in prison – alone and probably awaiting death. He had to be discouraged. Luke details John’s job description delivered to his father Zechariah by the angel Gabriel prior to his birth. It went as follows:14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. 16 Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." Luke 1:13-17 (NIV)
Elizabeth, John’s mother, was barren, Scripture tells us, and well along in years. The prospect of children was null and void – enter God to the scene. The God that delights in doing things that are too hard for us to do, blessed her womb with the “voice that would prepare the way for the Lord”. Can you even imagine the excitement Elizabeth and Zechariah must have felt at his birth? Don’t you know they started telling him as soon as he could have comprehended what the angel had spoken regarding his life? I am confident he believed his ministry was to be fruitful and lengthy! Think about it. John was flesh and blood with all the emotions that we have. Who knows what thoughts and dreams of use were going through his mind? In the desert (often where we hear the clearest from God) John had received a word from the Most High. Luke again states: 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert. 3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Luke 3:2-3 (NIV)
It was a go! His time had fully come! Preaching and baptizing, people were flocking to him like white on rice! Instant fame for this locust eating camel hair clad prophet. Yet he properly points all fingers to Jesus. Many were wondering in their hearts if he was the Christ – his reply: 15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ. 16 John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Luke 3:15-16 (NIV)
The pinnacle of John’s brief ministry occurred with his baptizing of our Lord. John protested the request of Jesus stating that Jesus should be baptizing him an indication that he felt unworthy for such great a task. Yet Jesus replied: 15 Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented. Matt 3:15 (NIV)
We are also told in the Gospel of John that John knew who Jesus was:32 Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' 34 I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God." John 1:32-34 (NIV)
Disillusioned and discouraged, now in prison he begins to question. “Was I mistaken?” “I must have been wrong!” “Why would I be in prison – alone and facing death?” “Why aren’t I being used in Kingdom work?” Surely some of these thoughts had to have danced through his head (they would have mine!). So he sends forth his disciples to ask “Are you the One?” I look at this and wonder why God would work His will out in that way? Could it be that John had had such a great following that there could have arisen a conflict between the followers of Christ and the followers of John? Could it be that while John’s ministry was both powerful and prosperous it was now meant to become less as Jesus’ ministry came on the scene? I believe so. Scripture tells us:26 They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan--the one you testified about--well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him." 7 To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.' 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30 He must become greater; I must become less. John 3:26-30 (NIV)