Matthew 11:2-4 KJV
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?
Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:
There is likely more in the example of John the Baptist than we are willing to admit.
He was a relative of ChristAs are all believers
He was obviously loved of the Lord
As can be seen both by Christ's words concerning him and by Christ's reaction at the news of his death.
Yet he was still a man
And he had his moments of question concerning Jesus Christ. Who among us has not wondered if we have followed the truth? Here is John the Baptist in a prison cell. Things do not look good for him and Jesus is obviously not coming to break him out. In a down time of life it is not impossible for the greatest of believers to wonder.
And Christ exercises no influence to rescue him
This is John the Baptist. Surely if there has ever lived a man who deserved to be supernaturally rescued from his captures, John the Baptist would have been him. Christ was physically present during his imprisonment. And when John was beheaded Christ was obviously moved by the news of it. But still He did nothing to prevent it.
Certainly Christ could have rescued John the Baptist just as He could have come down from the cross had He elected to do so. But God has a plan that transcends the reaches of human comfort. I prefer to trust Christ through the difficult times rather than expecting Christ to always rescue me from them. That seems to me to be far more consistent with the testimony of the Word.
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?
Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:
There is likely more in the example of John the Baptist than we are willing to admit.
He was a relative of ChristAs are all believers
He was obviously loved of the Lord
As can be seen both by Christ's words concerning him and by Christ's reaction at the news of his death.
Yet he was still a man
And he had his moments of question concerning Jesus Christ. Who among us has not wondered if we have followed the truth? Here is John the Baptist in a prison cell. Things do not look good for him and Jesus is obviously not coming to break him out. In a down time of life it is not impossible for the greatest of believers to wonder.
And Christ exercises no influence to rescue him
This is John the Baptist. Surely if there has ever lived a man who deserved to be supernaturally rescued from his captures, John the Baptist would have been him. Christ was physically present during his imprisonment. And when John was beheaded Christ was obviously moved by the news of it. But still He did nothing to prevent it.
Certainly Christ could have rescued John the Baptist just as He could have come down from the cross had He elected to do so. But God has a plan that transcends the reaches of human comfort. I prefer to trust Christ through the difficult times rather than expecting Christ to always rescue me from them. That seems to me to be far more consistent with the testimony of the Word.
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