Luke 7:19

Two of his disciples. Literally, “a certain two of his disciples.” The question regarding the Messiahship of Jesus originated with John’s disciples, not with John himself (see DA 214, 215), and John was disturbed that these men should cherish unbelief with respect to John’s own testimony that Jesus was indeed the Promised One (see DA 216). If the Baptist’s own disciples doubted his message, how could others be expected to believe? There were some things John did not understand — such as the true nature of the Messianic kingdom, and why Jesus did nothing to effect his release from prison. But despite the doubts that troubled him, he did not surrender his faith that Jesus was indeed the Christ (see DA 216; cf. v. 24). Disappointment and anxiety troubled the soul of the lonely prisoner, but he refrained from discussing these perplexities of his own mind with his disciples.

Sent them to Jesus. In the hope that a personal interview with Jesus would confirm their faith, that they would bring back a faith-strengthening message for his other disciples, and that he might receive a personal message to clarify his own thinking, John sent the two men to Jesus. If John was in the dungeon of Machaerus on the eastern side of the Dead Sea (see on eh. 3:20), the two messengers would probably follow the road through the Jordan valley, and once in Galilee could easily make inquiry as to where Jesus might be at the time. They must have walked at least 75 mi. in each direction, and have spent about three days each way. This means that they were gone at least a full week and perhaps more, counting the day they spent with Jesus, for no doubt they would not travel on the Sabbath.

Art thou? In the Greek the word “thou” is emphatic.

He that should come. Gr. ho erchomenos, which was often used as a Messianic expression, perhaps based originally on Ps. 118:26 (see also Matt. 3:11; 21:9; Mark 11:9; Luke 19:38; see on John 6:14; 11:27). Ho erchomenos is also used of Christ in reference to His second coming (see Matt. 23:39; Luke 13:35; Heb. 10:37; Rev. 1:4, 8).

God permits hours of perplexity to come even to the most worthy and trusted of His servants, in order to strengthen their faith and trust in Him. At times, when it is necessary for their own character development or for the good of God’s cause on earth, He permits them to go through experiences that seem to suggest that He has forgotten them. Thus it was with Jesus when He hung upon the cross (see Matt. 27:46; DA 753, 754). Thus it was with Job (see Job 1:21; 13:15). Even Elijah, the prototype of John the Baptist (see on Mai. 4:5; Matt. 17:10), had his moments of discouragement (see 1 Kings 19:4). In view of this, it can be easily understood that the experience of John in prison for a period of about one year was, in the merciful providence of God, permitted by way of encouragement to countless thousands of others who, in later years, must suffer martyrdom (see DA 224). Knowing that John’s faith would not fail (see 1 Cor. 10:13), God strengthened the prophet to endure. Steadfast to the end, John, even in prison and in death, stands forth as “a burning and a shining light” (John 5:35), his fortitude and patience illuminating the dark pathway of life for martyrs of Jesus down through the centuries.

It is appropriate to inquire how John was able to say, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30), and to accept without murmuring the lonely months in the dungeon, and eventually death at the hands of Herod. The secret was that “the touch of divine love had transformed him” (DA 179) — his heart was right. He was willing to be faithful to his mission in spite of the fact that to some extent he misconstrued the nature of Christ’s kingdom, a misconception he shared with his contemporaries (DA 215). Even the disciples of Jesus, after the resurrection, thought that He was about to establish His glorious kingdom on earth (Acts 1:6; cf. Matt. 24:3). Christ told the Pharisees, “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: ... for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20, 21). How often has it been true that perplexity has arisen from a misunderstanding of a statement in Bible prophecy! It was the preconceived opinions of the disciples, in spite of what their Lord had sought to teach them, that made His death and burial so bitter an experience for them (DA 412, 772, 796). Their experience may well be a lesson to us today to study with all diligence the messages that Inspiration has sent with regard to the hour of crisis that lies ahead of us (GC 594, 598; TM 116).