When Jesus had finished giving these instructions to his twelve disciples, he went out to teach and preach in towns throughout the region. John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen—the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor. And tell him, ‘God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.’” (Matthew 11:1-6)John the Baptizer was in prison and faced execution. His crime? Telling the king’s wife that she had done something wrong. He is about to be beheaded. And uncertainty waits to come into his mind.
What if? he is thinking. What if Jesus is not the Messiah. What if there is another? What if he has not done what God wanted? What if he is in prison too soon and the Messiah is still to be announced? If that is the case, then he has failed in his mission. Really, when it came down to it, he was only here for one reason: to point out the Messiah, to prepare the way as Malachi said.
But what if he was imprisoned too soon and his job is still to do and he can’t because here he is in prison and he has failed God and all of history. Everything is ruined because he said something maybe he could have waited to say.
He calls his disciples who hang around part of the day outside his prison cell. He tells them to go to see Jesus and check with him. Just get the reassurance that, yes, he is the Messiah, that they do not have to wait for another. Just go find out again. Have him say it again. John needs the reassurance that he did the right thing.
In his heart, he knew what he had done was right. He had seen the dove descending upon Jesus when he was baptized. He had heard the voice saying, This is my beloved son in who I am well-pleased.
He just needed to make sure. He was going to die and needed to make sure. Just one more time.
When the disciples asked Jesus about this, the one thing Jesus didn’t do was reprimand them. “What do you mean, am I the One? Didn’t he see the signs? Didn’t he get the message from God? What little faith John has. How can he call himself a prophet?”
No. Jesus understood the uncertainty. He would face it himself in the Garden the night before he was killed when he asks God if the cup could pass from him, if he has to do it.
His answer? What would the Messiah do when he came that I have not done? I have healed, I have even raised the dead. But above all else, I preach to those who cannot afford to pay me anything. If ever there was a measure of the Messiah, it would be that.
He didn’t come to the ones who had the money or the importance to verify his work. He came to everyone, rich or poor, regardless of whether or not they could pay him anything.
Then he tells John: God blesses those who do not turn away because of me. You are doing well, John. And God will bless you. Don’t worry.
He knew John needed the extra word and he gave it with no recriminations. John was finished with his ministry and Jesus knew it. John needed to know that his ministry had been right, had been profitable for the God he loved.
And Jesus reassured him.
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