Honest Conversations with John the Baptist - Episode 27

Episode 27 - Listen here or scroll down to read

Hey friends, welcome to episode 27.  Last week we looked at Elijah’s honest conversation with God and today we’re going to look at another one - one of my very favourites actually since I heard a sermon on it a few years ago.  Before we get started, I just wanted to say thanks for coming back after such a long break this summer.  It was encouraging to see those download numbers keep going last week!  I took two and a half months off of making new episodes, and I really needed to do that for a number of reasons, but of course as a content creator, you always worry about doing things like that.  But the Lord taught me a valuable lesson.  

When I logged into my podcast host a couple of weeks ago, I saw that last month was actually the biggest download month I had in a long time - even without any new episodes!  I sat there staring at the numbers and the Lord reminded me once again that this is His ministry and if I needed time off, the whole world wasn’t going to fall apart after all.  So thank you for going along on this journey with me, and welcome to all the new listeners that joined me during the break!

Today’s honest conversation is going to come from John the Baptist.  You might wonder at first if there could be any part of your life and story that could relate to John the Baptist’s life!  Here is this great man of faith that lived an unusual and dedicated life - there’s much to learn from his life, but it seems that there is not much to relate to.

Let’s review a little of John the Baptist’s life.  The first time we see him, he’s leaping in his mother’s womb when she sees Mary pregnant with Jesus.  And this seems like a good foreshadowing of what John will be like the rest of his life.  Enthusiastic and maybe even a little over the top for us introverts and practical people like me.

John grows up to fulfill prophecy, to be the voice of one crying in the wilderness.  He proclaims that Jesus is the Messiah to all who will listen and that is the sole focus of his life.  He is seen as kind of a wild man, living simply, covered in skins and eating locusts and wild honey.  It’s as though he cast off all earthly trappings so he could focus solely on his job here - to prepare the way of the Lord.  

He’s the one who has the immense privilege of baptizing Jesus - can you even imagine?  Being there when the heavens opened and God talked to Jesus would have been amazing, but being the one who actually baptized him is a whole other level.

In fact, John knew this and almost refused to do it, saying he was not even worthy to unlatch Jesus’s sandals.  When we think of faithfulness, dedication, proclaiming the Gospel, John is going to make it to the top of all those lists.

So far, we might not be helping in the reliability department.  I imagine that John and Jesus had many conversations, even though they’re not recorded for us.  But there is one small conversation that I want us to look at today.

This conversation takes place right before John’s death.  Do you remember how he died?  He was beheaded by Herod.  John had the audacity to rebuke Herod for taking his brother’s wife.  This is not all that surprising given John’s nature and his strong beliefs.  So Herod has him thrown into prison, later beheading him and giving his head on a platter to his step daughter during a crazy party.

It’s during that time in the prison that this conversation happens.  Let’s read from Luke 7.

And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

20 When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.

John the Baptist, one of the greatest and most faithful men to ever walk the earth, doubts.  He wonders if He backed the right guy.  Was it really true that Jesus was the Messiah?

I imagine John knew the end of his life was here.  Not too many people get thrown into prison for speaking out against the ruler and then get released.  John knew he was about to die.

So there he is in a prison, not a comfortable place to be, having lived a hard life of pure dedication to one man, and now it’s over.  This man who had given all, looked around and saw nothing in return.  A life of poverty, of hardship, or mocking, of being second, and now he was looking at either dying or rotting away alone in a prison.  And his question is, was it worth it?  Are you really the Messiah?

I imagine him sitting there recounting the sacrifices and thinking, I’m okay with how this ends as long as Jesus is who He says He is.  If Jesus is who He says He is, then John is about to die and hear well done thou good and faithful servant.  If not, then he wasted his whole life and was about to die on unnecessary principles.  The heart behind his question of, are you the Messiah, could also be, was it worth it?

Before the sermon I heard a few years ago, I never really noticed this quick little conversation.  And while I was doing research for this episode, it’s clear people don’t really want to talk about it.  After all, this is John the Baptist - how do we ascribe doubt to him?  How could this man who’s whole purpose in life was to proclaim Jesus as the Lamb of God question him before his death?  Did he fail at the end of his life?  I saw many people try to explain this away as John testing his disciples or trying to get them to follow Jesus themselves or other theories.

But often when the text has a plain reading, it’s best to go with that.  John seems to doubt.  And I really think that God put that in there so we could relate to John the Baptist.  John was a man, not God.  He was a prophet, but there were no perfect prophets.  And as he sat, alone and feeling forgotten and abandoned, he began to doubt.  Was Jesus really God?  Was He really worth it?  Had following Jesus been the right choice?

John doubted.  But instead of dying in despair, he did something so important.  He simply went to Jesus with his questions.  He couldn’t leave the prison himself, so he sent his disciples to ask for him.  Jesus, are you really the Messiah?

We might think that Jesus would be upset.  This man who had been close to him his entire life, his partner in the ministry, his unfailing support was questioning the most important thing about Him.  But just as always, we see love and compassion in His response.

Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.

23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

Basically, he says, go reassure John that he was not wrong.  That I am the Messiah, and that He is blessed if he believes in me.  Jesus knew exactly where John was and how he was feeling and he understood the need for reassurance, so that’s what He gave.  Not only did He offer a compassionate reassuring response, this is what He says to the crowd about his beloved friend.

And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

25 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts.

26 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.

27 This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

Even with his doubts, his honest questions, Jesus still calls him the greatest prophet that ever lived.  There is no condemnation just respect and love.  John is beheaded soon after this and I imagine he did so in the comfort of knowing that his life had been spent for the Messiah.

I love this story so much.  It shows us that we are allowed to be human.  That Jesus sees us when we feel like we’re lone or abandoned or we wonder if it is worth it all.  Not only does He see us, but He has compassion on us and is willing to take the time to reassure us.

My favourite thing about this story is that John didn’t stay in despair alone.  Instead of the constant wondering, he just asked.  He just had that honest conversation with Jesus and told him all about his doubts.  That’s when the comfort came.

Friend, maybe you’re feeling that same way today.  It might not be a prison, it probably isn’t, but we all have times of darkness, feeling alone, wondering if there are answers, wondering if this Christian life which can be difficult at times is worth it.  Is Jesus really the Messiah?  The only way?  The only truth?

You can have those questions.  Just take them to the right place.  Take them right to Jesus.  You will find His response is full of compassion and reassurance.  As many times as you need.  Questions do not negate faithfulness, but never asking them just might.  Talk with Jesus today.

I hope you loved this story from Luke 7 as much as I do.  I think about it often. 

Thanks for joining me today!