And John's disciples told him of all these things.
και απηγγειλαν ιωαννη οι μαθηται αυτου περι παντων τουτων
7 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Regarding the law, we noted previously that John serves as the representation of the law that announced Christ. The law, confined within the hearts of those who do not believe, shrouded in spiritual darkness like those imprisoned, cannot fully convey the complete testimony of the Lord's establishment of His house without the inclusion of the Gospel.
The entirety of this is clearly outlined in the twentieth chapter of the Gospel according to Matthew.
It is important to recognize that the anticipation surrounding the Lord was not beyond His capacity to address. The crowds, heavily influenced by the perspectives of the Pharisees and scribes, found it difficult to relinquish their optimistic hopes tied to the advent of the Messiah, despite their increasing admiration for Jesus. For the Pharisees, many of whom the Lord had repeatedly challenged, belief in such a magnificent occurrence was unlikely. Moreover, even John approached Jesus with the inquiry, "Are you the one who is coming, or do we look for another?" The disciples of the Baptist raised this question, possibly questioning whether they were misguided in identifying Jesus as the Messiah. This doubt does not appear to stem from John himself.
After all, he heard God’s calling to proclaim repentance in anticipation of the Messiah, directed his followers to Jesus, and only recognized Jesus as the Messiah when the sign was bestowed upon Him—the Spirit descending and resting on Him. John also acknowledged the voice of the Father regarding Jesus and later expressed joy at witnessing Jesus’ growing glory, indicating that he did not inquire solely for his disciples' sake. If John had his own uncertainties, he should not have turned to Jesus for reassurance. To do so would imply that John was questioning his role as the Forerunner, which would suggest he recognized Jesus as the Messiah without confirmation from Jesus. The phrasing "or else" implies that John's disciples held no doubts about John's identity but only about Jesus'. They believed John could maintain his status as Forerunner, even if Jesus were not the Messiah, suggesting that the Messiah's coming remained a possibility. Such sentiments, however, do not align with John's own convictions. If he had doubted Jesus, he would similarly question his own calling and reject the title of Forerunner altogether. John had received divine affirmation for both his mission and Jesus' identity.
Alternatively, one could interpret John's inquiry as not stemming from disbelief but from an eagerness to witness the establishment of the Messiah's kingdom and to be liberated from his imprisonment. However, it seems unlikely that John harbored such sentiments. He designated the Messiah as the Lamb and accepted that he would face opposition. It is improbable that he would align himself with a viewpoint anticipating a public establishment of the Messiah's reign that would alter the fate of the Forerunner. Thus, this questioning was unlikely to originate from John personally. Nevertheless, John, while in prison, summoned these disciples to send them to Jesus with this question, seeking clarity about any misconceptions regarding Jesus. It is highly plausible that the doubts raised in John's followers were instigated by the Pharisees, who attempted to sway sentiments against Jesus in Judea, and who, in Galilee, used John's disciples to criticize Jesus' followers for not fasting, a matter the Lord addressed in His teaching (see Mt 11:16-19).
As indicated in the Gospels, the inquiry made by two disciples of John the Baptist to Jesus arose from reports about the miraculous works of Christ that had reached John. Luke recounts the miracle of raising the widow of Nain’s son, stating that "the word of this went out in all Judea and throughout the whole country." The disciples subsequently relayed these events to John. Consequently, this delegation was prompted by the overall rumors of Jesus' miracles, with particular emphasis on the news of the widow’s son being resurrected.
Although the messengers sought clarification from Jesus on behalf of their master, and despite Christ instructing them to share what they had seen and heard with John, it is important to note that this mission was primarily intended for John’s disciples, not for John himself. It seems unlikely that John harbored doubts about Jesus' Messiahship, considering he had received divine testimony from God the Father, witnessed the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus at His baptism, and had boldly proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah.
John’s testimonies reveal a profound understanding of Christ and His mission, so it’s improbable that the humble state of Jesus would be a stumbling block for him. As John’s followers questioned whether Jesus was indeed the one to come, Jesus was performing numerous miracles. In His response to their inquiries, Christ highlighted these wonders, using them to affirm His claims. He referenced the words of the prophet Isaiah, thereby linking Old Testament prophecies to the validation of His message.
In His ministry, Jesus emphasized the proclamation of good news to the poor, targeting those Israelites who were politically oppressed and suffering. Furthermore, He stated, "Blessed is he who is not offended by Me," indicating His awareness of the discussions John’s disciples were having with their master regarding His role in the kingdom of God.
Around this time, the Messiah received a poignant message from John the Baptist. John was enduring hardship in prison, and the news of Jesus’ teachings and miraculous deeds inevitably reached him. He could take comfort in the works of the One to whom he had faithfully testified as the hope of Israel. However, John’s current circumstances did not align with his high expectations, leading some of his followers to express uncertainty regarding his previous affirmations. To provide them with clarity, he dispatched a few of them to the Messiah with the inquiry, “Art thou the One who should come, or should we expect another?”
The account of John the Baptist sending two of his followers from prison to inquire if Jesus was the Messiah, along with Jesus' response and His messages to the crowd regarding John, closely resembles the narrative found in Matthew. However, there are a few distinctive elements that enhance their shared story. In Matthew, it is mentioned that John "heard of the works of Christ," whereas in Luke, it is specified that John received reports from his disciples about all the extraordinary acts performed by the Lord, including the resurrection of the young man from Nain, which Luke had just detailed prior to this account.
The news of the Lord's miraculous works spread to the dim confines of the prison where John the Baptist, a great martyr for the truth, was held captive. His disciples, who managed to maintain contact with their master, informed him of all that Jesus Christ had accomplished. Subsequently, John summoned two of his disciples and dispatched them to inquire of Jesus, asking, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’ As St. John Chrysostom remarks, John sent this message not out of doubt nor from a place of ignorance; his inquiry was not for his own sake but aimed at clarifying his disciples' misconceptions about Jesus. They perceived Him as merely a man, mistakenly elevating John above Him. Although John had consistently taught them during his time with them, he was increasingly troubled as he approached the end of his earthly ministry. He feared they might remain forever disconnected from Christ.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 18 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS