Art Thou He That Should Come Or Do We Look For Another? - Part 745

For John, the question was critical. That is, "Art Thou He that should come or -- [one can almost hear John sigh here] -- do we look for another?" 

Note that during the time that John sent two of his disciples to ask Jesus this question, he had already been in prison for a year. Yes, the same John who had previously gone everywhere preaching repentance needed to know if Jesus was the One that should come. The one who was prophesied throughout the Old Testament.

Why? Because John knew that the One who was prophesied to come after him -- he was not even worthy to tie His shoes. 

John said, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He that comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear -- He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire -- whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather His wheat into the garner, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." (Matthew 3:11-12)

This is why John's question was so telling. He desired in his heart to know whether this man who encouraged "all ye that labour and are heavy laden" to come unto Him was the prophesied Christ. The promised Messiah. 

Imprisoned himself, how would he know for sure? So John sends two of his disciples to inquire of Jesus. Note that at this time in history, the Jews were expecting the King of kings to come -- certainly not a babe born in a manger. One could only imagine the uncertainty going through John's mind --- a Messiah King is in the world for the world to behold --- but He doesn't announce His authority as the King.

So when the two disciples ask, "Art Thou He?" Jesus doesn't answer directly. Instead, Jesus responds this way.

He said, "Go and show John again those things which you do hear and see. [That is,] the blind receive their 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, and blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me." (Matthew 11:4-6)

In other words, Jesus knew that John was well versed in the prophecies contained in the Old Testament -- particularly Isaiah's prophecies. (Isaiah 29:18; Isaiah 35:5; Isaiah 32:3) Therefore, by reminding John of these particular scriptures combined with presenting John's disciples with evidence of miracles, Jesus was making an iron-clad response for John. 

The evidence of miracles performed by Jesus included healing the sick. People were being raised from the dead and the poor had the gospel preached to them. It should have already been evident to anyone watching that Jesus wasn't merely a man. He wasn't just a prophet. 

Rather, Jesus was the King of kings. The Lord of lords foretold by the prophets. The Alpha and the Omega. The beginning and the end. The Great I AM. The One destined to become the resurrected Christ.

Moreover, Jesus was and is the only mediator between God and man. All the fulness of the Godhead dwelling bodily in Him. The same God who created us in the beginning becoming as one of us --- as the only begotten son of the Father -- so that we might experience His goodness. His grace. His mercy. 

In fact, the miracles Jesus was performing were only the beginning of the good news gospel message. But even John -- who Jesus acknowledged, "Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist"  -- struggled with his faith at this point.

"Art Thou He?"  John asked. 

The answer? Yes, indeed, Jesus is He. And the good news is that He is still reaching out to you and I today. "Come unto Me all ye who are heavy laden and I will give you rest." 

Trust in Jesus today. Believe on the King of kings and Lord of lords who said, "Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." 

Jesus never fails. Stand in the offering plate.