The Messiah: Should We Expect Someone Else?
When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”. (Matt 11:2-3)
You are warmly welcome.
It is Advent season and we continue longing, looking, seeking, waiting, expecting. Multi-pronged efforts by many teams searching for a Covid19 vaccine are ongoing, with hard-hit US on the verge of a breakthrough after more than nine months of diligence. Africa is longing for leaders of integrity and wisdom that will uphold the rule of law, harness her immense natural resources and facilitate development for all. Like the untimely deaths and continued suffering of a fleeced population, Israelites experienced harsh circumstances that caused their hearts not only to crave and seek for a Messiah but also remember God’s promises of such deliverance that would come. The irony of the greatest prophet chained and languishing in prison paints the grim picture well. For faithfully preaching against the sin of adultery and incest, Herod Antipas threw John the Baptist in prison. Who will deliver me?
John’s question in today’s text is representative of the cry of people longing for a Messiah. Matthew Henry comments extensively on the reason for the question: “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” Some think that John sent this question for his own satisfaction. It is true he had borne a noble testimony to Christ – declared him to be the Lamb of God and the Son of God (John1:29,34), but he desired to be further and more fully assured, that he was the Messiah that had been so long promised and expected. Or John's doubt might arise from his own present circumstances. He was a prisoner, and might be tempted to think, if Jesus is indeed the Messiah, why is it that I, his friend and forerunner, am brought into this trouble, and he never looks after me, never visits me, does nothing either to sweeten my imprisonment or hasten my release?
Others think that John sent his disciples to Christ with this question, not so much for his own satisfaction, but for theirs. Though he was a prisoner they adhered to him, attended on him, and were ready to receive instructions from him; they loved him, and would not leave him. Perhaps they were were somewhat prejudiced; being jealous for their master, they were slow to acknowledge Jesus to be the Messiah, because he eclipsed John, and are reluctant to believe their own master when they think he speaks against himself and them. Now John would have their mistakes rectified, and wished them to be as well satisfied as he himself was, and be released from the forerunner. More so, John was all along working towards turning over and having his disciples released to Christ; indeed, ministers’ business is to direct everybody to Jesus Christ. Jesus answer and actions confirm us that He is the long-awaited Messiah, and we should not look for someone else.
God bless you all