Luke 7:19 “And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
This is, very honestly, one of the most difficult passages in Scripture. However, it is one of many that lend much credence to the veracity of Scripture. And how so? Because this is such a human event, it is so realistic. Someone making up a story would surely drop this, or never come up with it to begin with, or try to provide some explanation. But, since it is included just as it is, it lends authenticity to the account.
One might object, “If even John doubted Jesus, why should anyone believe Him?” But this objection is not valid when one studies the situation carefully. In fact, John’s doubt itself also lends credence to the gospel message because it highlights the difficulty the Jews had in accepting the particulars of the gospel message.
And how so? Well, the Jewish believers, John included, expected that the Christ would overthrow the Romans and establish His kingdom on earth. And this is understandable given there are many prophesies of the Old Testament foreshadowing just such a scenario. But, as with many prophesies of Scripture, the fulfillment can come at unexpected times. Thus, Jesus in this passage mentions many prophecies concerning things He was indeed doing in fulfillment of prophecy. But, He omits many other things which He had not come to fulfill at that time. These are then in regard to yet future events, and those prophecies will be fulfilled at the Second Coming of the Messiah. So, Christ will indeed fulfill all of the prophecy concerning Himself, but not with the timing that the Jews expected.
This is no where more evident than in the first chapter of Acts. The disciples asked Jesus, “So, are you going to set up the kingdom now?” They saw His suffering and witnessed His resurrection, and were beginning to maybe understand atonement, so they saw the kingdom on earth as the next step. And indeed it is a step to be taken, but not even at that time. And why wait? Because Jesus wanted to gather in the Gentile sheep, also a concept that was difficult for the Jews to swallow.
Thus, when this is all taken into consideration, this particular event is quite a good pillar to the gospel. Here, though we have doubts expressed by the forerunner of Christ, his doubts are those of a man in prison, and they are not inconsistent with what all of the Jews felt at this time. The reality of this difficulty explains why there were few of the scribes, Pharisees, and other Jewish leaders who were converted to Christ early on. It puts much of the actions of the very early church, such as Peter’s ministry to Cornelius, in a better light. It is really and truly a very authentic human action that arose from the growing understanding of the gospel and all that it would mean for this world.
Heavenly Father, as we look at Your Word we may test it in any way we like and yet we always come to the same conclusion. It cannot be dismissed. It is no joke or fairy tale to be taken lightly. It hits us squarely right where we live if we will but read it with a view to taking it as it presents itself. I cannot help but wonder at Your wisdom in providing it to us. For the man who never hears it is the silent partner to what he can see quite evidently in Your creation, and that explains his existence and purpose, though he remain ignorant of it. And, for the rest of us, who know that it stands here to inform, it serves as the signpost to point the way around the bottomless pit. Even if we chose to ignore it, wishing to be ignorant of it, it condemns our disinterest in such a way that it is difficult for us to argue. In short we have to embrace it, or fight it. Oh God give us the power to preach the gospel as comes to us! Let us not make it what it never was, but present it just as it is. May we bring to this world a book that reads the reader. May we help them to see that this is the only way that all of this could be done. In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.