Luke 7

“The dead man sat up and began to speak and Jesus gave him to his mother.  Then fear came over everyone, and they glorified God, saying, ‘A great prophet has risen among us,’ and ‘God has visited His people.’  This report about Him went throughout Judea and all the vicinity.  Then John’s (the “Baptist”) disciples told him about all these things.  So John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord, asking, ‘Are You the One who is to come, or should we look for someone else?”  Luke 7:15-19

Jesus was immersed in the Jordan River by John (the “Baptist”).  The apostle John’s gospel informs us that the next day, John (the “Baptist”) told two of his disciples, “Look!  The Lamb of God!” John 1:32-42 One of those disciples was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

After Jesus was tempted in the wilderness for 40 days, He heard John (the “Baptist”) had been arrested.  At this time, Jesus went to the Galilee region and began His public ministry.  Mark 1:14, Matthew 4:12  

In prison, John (the “Baptist”) began second-guessing his message…the primary reason for his chains.  Faith is easy, in theory.  In reality, faith requires whole-self devotion.  No doubt, John (the “Baptist”) was coming to grips with the reality that he would die in prison because of his faith.  News that Jesus had raised someone from the dead must have given John hope.

The concept that a prophet could raise people from the dead was very familiar.  Both Elijah and Elisha had done this.  The people, whom a prophet raises to life, will eventually die of some other circumstance.  When Messiah raises the dead, it has eternal implications.  In essence, John (the “Baptist”) wanted to know: “If my life is required of me, will Jesus raise me up?”  More importantly, “Will He raise me up into eternity?”  

John (the “Baptist”) was created to herald Messiah.  But now, it seems he questioned whether he truly believed his own testimony concerning Jesus.  Perhaps he doubted the Holy Spirit’s testimony in exchange for human reasoning.  That was sin of the worst kind.  Nobody knows if John ever repented and fully believed in Jesus.  Jesus’ opinion on John’s faith, at that moment, was clear: “The least in the kingdom is greater than he.”  Luke 7:28.

This scenario is important to us in light of Jesus’ “Beatitudes” message.  If we seek to follow Jesus to the extent that He calls us, we must take on a prophet’s mission.  If a prophet’s mission we are called to, then a prophet’s wages we will most likely receive: Poverty, Hunger, Weeping, Insults & Slanders because of the Son of Man.  John 6:20-23

But if you lay down your life in order to follow Jesus, even unto death at the hands of men, will you not receive much more than you gave up on earth, in Heaven?  John 6:38

Is serving God becoming uncomfortable?  Rejoice!  Sow a mortal life on earth; reap eternal life in Heaven.