Imprisonment and Death of John
173
him, prove to be his most dangerous enemies! How often, instead of
strengthening his faith, their words depress and dishearten!
Like the Saviour’s disciples, John the Baptist did not understand
the nature of Christ’s kingdom. He expected Jesus to take the throne
of David; and as time passed, and the Saviour made no claim to kingly
authority, John became perplexed and troubled. He had declared to
the people that in order for the way to be prepared before the Lord,
the prophecy of Isaiah must be fulfilled; the mountains and hills must
be brought low, the crooked made straight, and the rough places plain.
He had looked for the high places of human pride and power to be cast
down. He had pointed to the Messiah as the One whose fan was in His
hand, and who would thoroughly purge His floor, who would gather
the wheat into His garner, and burn up the chaff with unquenchable
fire. Like the prophet Elijah, in whose spirit and power he had come to
Israel, he looked for the Lord to reveal Himself as a God that answereth
by fire.
In his mission the Baptist had stood as a fearless reprover of iniq-
uity, both in high places and in low. He had dared to face King Herod
with the plain rebuke of sin. He had not counted his life dear unto
himself, that he might fulfill his appointed work. And now from his
dungeon he watched for the Lion of the tribe of Judah to cast down the
pride of the oppressor, and to deliver the poor and him that cried. But
Jesus seemed to content Himself with gathering disciples about Him,
and healing and teaching the people. He was eating at the tables of the
publicans, while every day the Roman yoke rested more heavily upon
Israel, while King Herod and his vile paramour worked their will, and
the cries of the poor and suffering went up to heaven.
[216]
To the desert prophet all this seemed a mystery beyond his fathom-
ing. There were hours when the whisperings of demons tortured his
spirit, and the shadow of a terrible fear crept over him. Could it be that
the long-hoped-for Deliverer had not yet appeared? Then what meant
the message that he himself had been impelled to bear? John had been
bitterly disappointed in the result of his mission. He had expected that
the message from God would have the same effect as when the law
was read in the days of Josiah and of Ezra (
2 Chronicles 34
;
Nehemiah
8, 9
); that there would follow a deep-seated work of repentance and
returning unto the Lord. For the success of this mission his whole life
had been sacrificed. Had it been in vain?