Matthew 11

[Sinner90_]

As I’m still new to all the details in the bible I was just wondering if anyone could possibly explain this passage to me?

1After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.[a]

2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?

i might be showing my ignorance but I thought John the Baptist knew who Jesus is since he baptised him?

 

[Dave L]

As I’m still new to all the details in the bible I was just wondering if anyone could possibly explain this passage to me?

1After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.[a]

2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?

i might be showing my ignorance but I thought John the Baptist knew who Jesus is since he baptised him?

I always assumed Jesus and John went their separate ways. But false Christs happened along all the time. John was hearing about someone doing marvelous works and sent his disciples to verify it was the true Christ. Just my opinion......

 

[paul1149]

I thought John the Baptist knew who Jesus is since he baptised him?

It's an excellent question, one I've asked myself. John indeed knew Jesus was the Messiah. Even while in the womb he knew, scripture says. But the harsh reality of being thrown into prison for doing what was right was wearing on him.

Knowing Jesus is Messiah doesn't mean we know everything about Him or His ways. The Jews back then were looking for a militant messiah who would rescue them from Rome's iron grip, and being stuck in prison didn't compute in John's mind. As time wore on John felt compelled to question Jesus on this point.

We can take John's question two ways. First, it could simply mean what it literally says, "Are you the Messiah?". IOW, John was questioning whether Jesus was actually the Messiah after all. Or it could mean, "You are the Messiah, why on earth aren't you giving us the victory we want? Why am I stuck in prison? Do something!"

I don't know which is more correct. But I do think that the world's afflictions were grinding down on John, and that caused him to try to get answers from the Lord. We do the same thing, and it's comforting to see Jesus' reaction to John's question. He's not offended, He answers not with mere words, but with supernatural good deeds, and then lauds John to the crowd.

 

[icxn]

St John knew, his disciples on the other hand did not. He sent his disciples to ask Him for their sake, not because he had doubts. That is why Christ didn't praise John in front of them but waited for them to leave. They had great reverence for their teacher and the humility of Christ hindered them from accepting that He was greater than John.

 

[Greg J.]

As I’m still new to all the details in the bible I was just wondering if anyone could possibly explain this passage to me?

1After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.[a]

2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?

i might be showing my ignorance but I thought John the Baptist knew who Jesus is since he baptised him?

John had faith that Jesus was the Messiah, but our faith can waver when we are faced with contradictory evidence. (It would not have been strange if John thought that Jesus was going to save him [all the apostles did].) John had been thrown unjustly into prison, and may have believed he was heading toward execution. The pressure may have made him call into question why he was there, and whether it was worth it or not—the value of what he did had not happened yet. It was in his future.

Jesus' answer wasn't just "yes," which would not have helped John's faith much. It would only be a reconfirmation of what he originally believed, which is what his struggle was with. It was an answer that pointed to visible facts that the messengers would attest to—which would have been something more concrete to believe in (less prone to errors from opinion and perspective) and more comforting.

 

[HTacianas]

As I’m still new to all the details in the bible I was just wondering if anyone could possibly explain this passage to me?

1After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.[a]

2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?

i might be showing my ignorance but I thought John the Baptist knew who Jesus is since he baptised him?

John did in fact know Jesus. But please remember that John was in prison waiting to be executed at the time of his question. It may have been John's final attempt at confirmation of Jesus if for nothing else but that it would have comforted him before he died.

 

[Sinner90_]

Thanks for the answers guys.

 

[ewq1938]

John and his disciples sure knew who Jesus was according to these:

Joh 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Joh 1:30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
Joh 1:31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
Joh 1:32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
Joh 1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
Joh 1:34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
Joh 1:35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;
Joh 1:36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
Joh 1:37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
Joh 1:38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?
Joh 1:39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.
Joh 1:40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
Joh 1:41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

 

[redleghunter]

As I’m still new to all the details in the bible I was just wondering if anyone could possibly explain this passage to me?

1After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.[a]

2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?

i might be showing my ignorance but I thought John the Baptist knew who Jesus is since he baptised him?

They were cousins so they both knew each other well. John knew Jesus was the Messiah.

Some of the more pastoral theologians think John was a bit down and out being in prison. That he was looking for some reassurance before his impending death. Shows John was human.

Others after studying the Dead Sea Scrolls and the writings of the Qumran community have opined that community had influence on John the Baptist. They believed there would be a High Priest type Messiah, a Kingly Messiah and a Prophet Messiah. Not in one person but three separate persons like in the days of the Kings of Israel and Judah.

So the theory goes that John understood the three offices of Messiah from the Qumran community (Essenes most scholars believe) but knew Jesus to be The Messiah. It is possible at this point when John is about to be executed he witnessed the prophet and potentially the kingly attributes but not the priestly as Christ was yet to atone for us. Thus the questions.

I don’t take much stock in the Qumran theory and opt for the more pastoral theory of John wanting some reassurance from his cousin before his impending execution.

What’s really important is how Christ answered the inquiry. He makes it quite clear quoting messianic prophecies that He is indeed the Messiah.

Matthew 11: NASB

4Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM.6“And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.”

This is derived from Isaiah 55:5 and Isaiah 61:1.

Then when we keep reading we see a very rare occasion of Jesus praising a person thus showing the importance of John’s ministry.

Hope this helps.

 

[prodromos]

John had no doubts, but although some of his disciples were already following Jesus, others were staying with him out of loyalty. He needed them to decide for themselves to follow Jesus, so he couldn't simply tell them to go. Thus why he sent them to ask Jesus for confirmation, and why Jesus answered indirectly, so that He did not impose on their choosing freely to follow Him. It is a beautiful study in leading in humility, both on the part of John and our Lord.

 

[bcbsr]

As I’m still new to all the details in the bible I was just wondering if anyone could possibly explain this passage to me?

1After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.[a]

2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?

i might be showing my ignorance but I thought John the Baptist knew who Jesus is since he baptised him?

John was under duress at the time. What's interesting to me is Jesus answer to him

Mt 11:2-6 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?" Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: "The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. "And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."

When asked for evidence or proof Jesus responded with a testimony of miracles. In fact every time the gospel is preached in the Bible miracles are mentioned as forensic evidence validating the gospel.

You take the first Christians sermon Acts 2:22 "Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know."

John 10:25 Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me."

John 20:30,31 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name