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Luke 7:24–27
“What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you’ ” (vv. 26–27).
John the Baptist suffered in prison and was eventually killed for his faithfulness to God’s Word, because he had condemned the illicit marriage of Herod Antipas to Herodias, the former wife of his brother Philip (Matt. 14:1–12; Luke 3:18–20). Thus, it is somewhat understandable that John’s belief in Jesus’ messiahship was shaken while he was in jail and that he sent some disciples to ask Jesus whether He was who John thought He was. After all, John seemed to have expected that when the Messiah came, He would immediately bring divine judgment on the enemies of God’s people and exalt the righteous, as the prophets anticipated would happen in the day of the Lord (Luke 3:15–17; see Zeph. 3).
It turns out that John had an incomplete understanding of the Messiah’s work. Yes, the Savior came to bring judgment, but we see in the New Testament that the day of the Lord that the Messiah ushers in includes a long period in which mercy is extended to the nations and people have an opportunity to be saved. The day of the Lord began with the work of Jesus and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, but it will not be completed before He returns to consummate His kingdom (see Acts 2:1–41; 3:11–26; 2 Peter 3:8–10). Jesus sent word of this to John the Baptist by alluding to the Messiah’s work mentioned in Isaiah and His fulfillment of it, exhorting him to be patient and to trust that all was happening according to the divine plan (Luke 7:21–23; see Isa. 42:1–9; 61:1–2).
John’s doubts regarding Jesus might have led some people to have a lower view of John’s ministry and faithfulness. Jesus corrects any potential for this in today’s passage with His praise of John. He reminded His hearers that John was not like a reed shaken by the wind, like one who changed his views based on the whims of the audience (Luke 7:24). Indeed, when the people went to see John, they went to see a prophet and were right to do so (Luke 7:26). Yet Jesus says that John was more than a prophet, identifying him as the fulfillment of Malachi 3:1–4. God had promised to send a special messenger before His full return to Zion after the Babylonian exile, and John was that messenger. As the angel had told John’s father, Zechariah, John would be the Elijah to come before the Messiah brought the day of the Lord, not the literal reappearance of Elijah but one with Elijah’s spirit and power (Luke 1:8–17; see Mal. 4:5–6). The questions that John had about Jesus in a moment of trial did not invalidate his ministry or his faith.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
Jesus’ praise of John the Baptist despite his doubts reminds us that our experiencing doubts from time to time does not mean that we lack true faith. When we doubt, let us follow John’s example in bringing our questions to Jesus. We do this today by delving deep into His Word to receive answers and assurance, looking to other Christians to help us develop a deeper trust in Jesus.
for further study
- Exodus 23:20
- Amos 5:18–20
- Matthew 11:1–10
- 2 Corinthians 6:1–2
the bible in a year
- Judges 18–19
- Luke 10:25–42