Context No. 3341 of 4322 · Luke

Luke 7:16-20: in context

16Fear took hold of all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has visited his people!” 17This report went out concerning him in the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region. 18The disciples of John told him about all these things. 19John, calling to himself two of his disciples, sent them to Jesus, saying, “Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for another?” 20When the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptizer has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?’”

After Jesus raises the widow's son at Nain, the crowds glorify God, saying, a great prophet has arisen among us, and God has visited his people. But then, from prison, John the Baptist sends two of his disciples with a searching question: are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?

Even John, who had pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God, has honest doubts. Facing death, and perhaps puzzled that Jesus' ministry did not look as he had expected, a prophet as great as John still finds himself asking. And Jesus does not rebuke him for it. There is comfort here: even a strong and faithful servant of God can have a moment of questioning, and John does the right thing with his uncertainty, he brings it straight to Jesus rather than letting it fester in silence. Doubt is not the opposite of faith; letting doubt drive us away from Jesus is. John sent his question to the only one who could answer it, and waited.

When doubts arise, even in the strongest faith, do I bring them honestly to Jesus, as John did, rather than letting them drive me away?

Sources

Luke 7:19: "John, calling to himself two of his disciples, sent them to Jesus, saying, Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for another?"
Luke 7:16: "A great prophet has arisen among us! and, God has visited his people!"
Matthew 11:6: "Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me."