Doubting John the Baptist

When I think of John the Baptist I think of this tough as nails dude that lived in the desert eating locus YUCK and wild honey. He looked like a caveman or like Elijah, who looked like a caveman. I think of this confident person who was willing to obey his God predicted call of preparing the way for the Messiah. Just like Isaiah had promised that he would. I think of a guy who was willing to call on the carpet Herod of all people. He told Herod that it was unlawful for him to have his brother’s wife. That was not the smartest thing to do. Making a wild man leader mad at you can get you thrown into jail. And, surprise surprise, that is exactly what happened. John found himself in prison. 

Prison was different in those days. No TV or Internet access to pass the time. Meals? Let your imagination run wild on that subject. Visiting hours? At the visitor's own risk. 

While in prison people have time to think. A lot of time. Depending on their sentence, of course. John didn't know it but may have had a good inkling that he didn't have much more time before he entered Paradise. And the weird thing is that he began to doubt. 

Now you will remember his birth announcement by none other than the Angel Gabriel. John was one of those, doubted first child, people. His birth just did not make any sense. His mom was an old lady and his dad an old man. His dad suffered muteness, (is that a word?) for nine months because he couldn't wrap his mind around the fact that, as Gabriel put it, "(his) prayers have been answered!" 

So here is the wonder child in prison biding his time and wondering about his cousin Jesus. We know that John was a special human being because Jesus said that he was the greatest person that had ever lived (Matt 11:11). This great man had doubts about Jesus and his claims to be the Messiah. "Why?" you might ask? 

Put yourself into his well worn sandals. You have focused your life on one mission. That being, preparing for the coming of the Messiah. He finally arrives on the scene and you baptize him. You heard a voice from heaven confirming that he really is the Man. Then, nothing. Oh yes you hear of some miracles but there is no instant communication. So, the news comes sparsely to you in the desert.

This miracle working was certainly a part of the messianic thing but, where was the conquest, where was the Kingdom? When was John going to be liberated from prison? 

So John sent some of his disciples to ask Jesus the key question, "Are you the one we've been waiting for? Or is there someone else coming?" And Jesus gives this veiled answer. "Go and tell John what you have seen. The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me" (Matt 11:5,6).

Then John is beheaded. Wait! How's that again? Yep. He's gone. Then in two years Jesus is gone too. 

Did John have a good reason to doubt? It seems like he did. However, knowing the rest of the story like we do it's easy to accuse John of having little faith. John didn't have all of his Eschatology in order. He thought that Christ was going to come and set up his kingdom and pronto. He knew nothing of a 2,000 year interlude. Who would have seen it coming? Yet here we are. 

Was John wrong? Yes and no. The next time the Christ, Jesus, returns, he will set up his kingdom and pronto! This time there will be no interlude. Judgment will be swift and peace will finally be on earth. The Prince of peace will reign for eternity. Just like he said he would.