John the Baptist's Big Question

By Mary Vee
Matthew 11, Luke 7

From one of John the Baptist's Disciple's Journals 

Photo by Mary Vee. View down to the Sea of Galilee from
the Mountain where it is believed Jesus was at this time.
Capernaum is down and to the left by the shore.

I am a disciple of John the Baptizer. I have been following him for some time. He has told those who listened to his words to prepare yourself. The Promised One is coming. 

As Jews, we'd waited such a long time for the Messiah to come. Never before had one spoken so strongly as John the Baptizer about the Promised One coming. 

We wondered if the One we should be looking for was here already. Somewhere in the country. If this was so, I didn't want to miss meeting Him.

I had witnessed the man named Jesus doing great miracles. He'd healed a centurion's slave. He raised a widow's son back to life.  John hadn't seen these events. He worked night and day preaching and teaching about the coming promised one.

This morning I and another disciple of John went to the prophet. "John, we have witnessed a man performing great miracles. Only recently, a funeral procession walked out the Nain city gates just as this man and the crowd following him happened by. Jesus, that was the man's name, was so taken by the widow that he stopped the procession and said to the her son, "Young man, get up!" Before our eyes the widow's son breathed and color returned to his face as he sat up."

John listened to us tell what we'd witness. "You say his name is Jesus?"

"Yes."

He stroke his beard and gazed off to the side before looking back at us. "I have a task for you two."

"We'll do anything you ask."

"Good. Go to the man called, Jesus and ask him if he is the one who was to come or should we expect someone else?"

We gathered our staffs and set off right away to where we'd last seen Jesus. By mid morning we found him and requested an opportunity to speak with him. His disciples introduced us. "These are disciples of John the Baptizer. They have a message."

Jesus welcomed us. He had a compassionate look in his eyes. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he already knew what we were going to ask. "Yes?" 

We bowed in respect as anyone would before a rabbi or prophet. "John the Baptizer has sent us to ask, 'Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?'"

He didn't answer right away. Instead he allowed us to stay near him. "Come." That day he walked through the villages among the people, listening to them, answering their questions. 

To those who were sick, he healed their diseases and sicknesses. 

To those who brought loved ones with evil spirits he freed them. 

To those who were blind, he restored their sight. 

To those who could not walk, he brought strength to their legs so they could walk again. 

For those who had leprosy he healed their skin and rid their body of the disease. 

To those who were deaf, he restored their hearing. 

He visited the homes of those who had died and brought them back to life. 

He preached the good news of God's love and forgiveness to the poor. 

After spending a few days with Jesus, he said to the other messenger and me, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard. Blessed is the man who does not fall away from believing in the Father because of me."

And so we did. I must admit we were very excited to tell John what we'd seen. So excited that as we neared him, we shouted, "John. John the Baptizer. We have news!"

He stopped his work and waited for us to run to him. We were so out of breathe from running. We were so excited to tell him the news. We laughed at our own babbling words! 

But John the Baptizer waited for us to speak. He sat down as we told him all we'd seen. Everyone who had come to hear the prophet, John's words that day listened to our witness of what Jesus had said and done.

It was then I knew, He is the One. 
Jesus. He is the Promised One. 
Of this I am more than sure. 
And believe.


Just like that, the news of what happened spread through all of Judea and the surrounding country about Jesus and all He had done. 

 Come back to read the next story.

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sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.