Santiago, please read my first post to Sam where I expressed my idea that I thought John was having some doubts because things were not going the way he thought they should.. This is not unusual for a person to doubt when they are perplexed. The Jews expected a political and material messiah, Jesus came as a different type and they rejected Him, so the kingdom was taken from them. That's what The Gospel of Matthew is all about, the Jews rejecting Jesus as The Messiah and God taking the Kingdom from them and establishing a spiritual kingdom.
Look at this translation, also check the greek, it doesn't say John forgot anything. It is no sin to have an honest doubt, as I said before, my opinion. Actually, if we take them to the Lord, He will answer them for us just like He did for John. This is one way we grow into spiritual maturity, by trusting Jesus. The natural man likes to trust himself.
Christ's answer to John's disciples
"John the Baptist, who was now in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus," (Mat 11:2 NLT)
""Are you really the Messiah we've been waiting for, or should we keep looking for someone else?"" (Mat 11:3 NLT) - New Living Translation.
Notice the word 'really'. This gives the true sense of John having a doubt and wanting an answer.
Now read the rest of that chapter and you will see Jesus is saying by His miracles that He is indeed the Messiah.
David |
