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128
Humble Hero
king Herod with the plain rebuke of sin. And now from his dungeon
he watched for the Lion of the tribe of Judah to throw down the
pride of the oppressor and to deliver the poor. But Jesus seemed
satisfied with healing and teaching the people. He was eating at the
tables of the tax collectors, while every day the Roman oppression
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rested more heavily on Israel, while King Herod and his illicit lover
worked their will, and the cries of the poor and suffering went up to
heaven.
A Terrible Disappointment
All this seemed a mystery. The whisperings of demons tortured
John’s spirit, and the shadow of a terrible fear crept over him. Could
it be that the long-hoped-for Deliverer had not yet appeared? 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
), that a deep work of repentance would follow. Had
his whole life been sacrificed in vain? Had his work for his own
disciples been fruitless? Had he been unfaithful in his mission, so
that he was now cut off from labor? If the promised Deliverer had
appeared and John had been found true to his calling, would not
Jesus now overthrow the oppressor’s power and set free the one who
had announced His arrival?
But the Baptist did not surrender his faith in Christ. The Voice
from heaven, the descending dove, the spotless purity of Jesus, the
power of the Holy Spirit that had rested on John as he came into the
Savior’s presence, the testimony of the Scriptures—all testified that
Jesus was the Promised One.
John determined to send a message to Jesus. He entrusted it
to two of his disciples, hoping that an interview with the Savior
would confirm their faith. And he longed for some word from Christ
spoken directly for himself.
The two disciples came to Jesus with their message: “Are You
the Coming One, or do we look for another?” The question was
keenly bitter and disappointing to Jesus’ human nature. If John, the
faithful forerunner, failed to understand Christ’s mission, what could
He expect from the selfseeking multitude?