John the Baptist sent his disciples to ask Jesus this question.  “Are you the the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” (Matthew 11:3).   The question in Matthew 11, almost sounds as if John was in doubt about Jesus’ identity, “Are you the Christ?” This seems an odd question to ask in light of the baptists previous statements (John 1:29-34,36; cf. Mark 1: 9-11; Luke 3:15vv).

Looking closer we see that John was in prison (Mt 4:12), it was more likely that his disciples were in doubt over the Messiah-ship of Jesus than John (1 Peter 1:10,11 prophets searched their own prophecies, particularly regarding the times and suffering and glory of Christ).

They had seen the signs/miracles that Jesus had been performing (Luke 7:18). But, all they could see was grace, for although Jesus brought grace, there were no signs of judgment (Luke 3:17). This certainly did not sound like the Messiah that had been anticipated by the Jewish nation. The Messiah who would rid them of Rome, punish the gentile nations and rule from Zion.

R.C.H Lenski States “The fact that John sends to Jesus for an answer proves John’s faith in Jesus. This answers those who think that John had lost confidence in Jesus and doubted as some moderns doubt — disbelief. In that case John would not have directed his question to Jesus, nor would Jesus have sent an answer, and least of all the answer he did.” (Lenski – Interpretation of St Matthew’s Gospel)

After all it was God who revealed to the baptist the identity of the Messiah (Mark 1:33,34). It was Jesus who would then carry out all the great Messianic works, both grace (Mt 3:11) and Judgment (Mt 3:12), compare Luke 3:3-6 for grace and v.9 regarding judgment.

What perplexed John the baptist (when he heard in prison of the works of Christ) was that Jesus’ ministry was, so far, all grace. Where were the works of judgment, they were not being done! Is there another to follow who would carry out judgment?

One thing we must remember concerning the prophecies of the Messiah and the Kingdom of God is the time frame. Not the time between prophecy and the actualization of the Messiah, but that of His entrance into the world with grace and mercy and His second coming with judgment. As Lenski points out “The prophetic picture is without perspective as to time; grace and judgment are simply predicted, and the point of time when they will occur is left with God (Acts 1:7).”

Answering the question from John’s disciples, Jesus replies with the Old Testament prophecies that caused John’s puzzlement in the first place ( Isa 35:5,6; Isa 61:1). Isaiah 61:1 being the climax “and, the poor have the good news preached to them.” (Mt 11:5b). All of these things are the signs of the Messiah.

“Blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” this last verse to the disciples are to be applied to John, John’s disciples and to all of us, it is a general beatitude.

The question asked by the baptists disciples “are you the one ‘who is to come’, or shall we look for another?” begs the question of, do you believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, are you blessed? Or are you offended by Him?

This question, as D. Martin Lloyd-Jones has stated, is one of the greatest questions that any one of us could ask. To find out the answer leads a person to either accept Jesus or reject Him. It commands a response! Is He the Messiah or Isn’t He?

I hope and pray that you come to realize that Jesus is Lord and Saviour.

Soli Deo Gloria