Below are thoughts by Wayne Gregory on John the Baptist regarding...
Matthew 11:2-3 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?
"Did John the Baptist doubt that Jesus was the Christ? I am convinced that John was not doubting, but in his final hours on this earth was still fulfilling his ministry and pointed all his disciples to "the lamb of God."
"Jesus answered the disciples by referring them to the OT record: (Isa. 35:1-6) "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God. Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert." These and kindred scriptures were the foundation for their faith and hope, not John's testimony.
"No, John did not doubt, but was committing his disciples to the care of the ONE to whom they belonged. This sending of his disciples was not for his benefit, but for the benefit of those he sent. Therefore, when John was beheaded, where did they go? (Matt. 14:12) "And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus." They went to the ONE John had pointed them to. IMHO, John's actions was a great testimony that he believed that Jesus was the Christ; and Christ had greater witness than John - His works.
"If you read all the Lord said about John in the following context, you might come to believe the same thing. As concerns the least in the kingdom of God or heaven, I understand that as later and referring to Christ. That was what John has repeatedly confirmed, 'He that cometh after me...is greater than me'."
By Wayne Gregory
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May we all hearken unto the example that John has left before us. There will be times that our Lord will put forth obstacles or circumstances which may cause us to doubt, whether prolonged or momentarily. But let us be firm and resilient in the cause. Free from doubts that may try us.
If we consider the world and its effects, doubt is present on each and every corner, because it is all temporal. There is no doubt in the Lord, because he knows not doubt.
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