The Report to John

John who baptized was the greatest human prophet ever, according to Jesus (Matthew 11:11). He was also the least in the Kingdom of Heaven, according to Jesus (Matthew 11:11). John’s revelation included the knowledge that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand, that Jesus was in the earth to take away sin, that Jesus was Yahweh’s Son, and that He would baptize people in the Holy Spirit and fire. His revelation did not include knowing what the Kingdom of Heaven would look like.

I don’t know which of the many possible reasons might be true regarding why John began to question whether he had been right about the introduction of Jesus as Messiah. One possibility is that his filter for examining everything in the earth was sin, as determined by the law given through Moses. When he saw Jesus spending time enjoying being with prostitutes and traitors, it did not add up for him that this could be right.

When he sent word from prison to Jesus to ask if He was really Messiah, the evidence that Jesus sent back for consideration regarding the unfolding manifestation of the Kingdom that John had announced was the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecies about what Messiah would do – healing, preaching and other miracles.

The Kingdom is more manifest now than it was when only one Man was walking in it. There should be even more of those sorts of works happening now. Pray that we will not fail to represent the King and His presence in the earth by expecting less supernatural and amazing works through our lives than Jesus expects through them.

When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent a message by his disciples and asked Him, “Are You the One who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
Jesus replied to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: the blind see, the lame walk, those with skin diseases are healed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news. And if anyone is not offended because of Me, he is blessed.”
(Matthew 11:2-6 Holman Christian Standard Bible ©®)