Scripture: Matthew 11:2-6 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
Devotional: If you’ve ever struggled with times and circumstances where God doesn’t seem to make sense, this week’s devotions are for you. We open today with John the Baptist, whom God had ordained, even before his birth, to prepare the way of the Lord (Matthew 3:3). John was faithful in his calling, and when Jesus began his earthly ministry, John publicly declared: “He must become greater, I must become less” (John 3:30).
But now John found himself in the dark, dank, dungeon prison of Herod, thrown there for calling Herod out for his immoral and illegal marriage to Herodias. John must have felt forgotten. And surely, he must have questioned why God would put him there. After all, he had work to do!
John sent his disciples to Jesus to question him, perhaps expecting the Messiah to bring judgment, wrath, and destruction, coming as a mighty ruling King. But Jesus’ response, in nature, was corrective, quoting portions of Isaiah 61, which proclaimed what Jesus came to do: heal, bring life, and free the oppressed.
Nevertheless, this passage gives insight into John’s state of mind. He wondered if he had been forgotten. He struggled with doubt – was Jesus really the One he thought he was?
Maybe you understand how that feels. If there’s something in your life that is not going the way you thought, and you’ve wondered why God seems silent, be encouraged today.
Reflect:
- How might John’s story remind you that God has a purpose in all things, even the most difficult things you might walk through?