Verified answer

It is not that John doubted that Jesus was the promised prophet. But after hearing this remarkable report about the widow’s son being restored to life, he wanted a verbal statement directly from Jesus as to his Messianic identity. John had wondered if there was to be another one coming, a successor, as it were, who would complete the fulfillment of all the things that were foretold to be accomplished by God’s Messiah.

So when the two disciples of John reached Jesus and made John’s request to him, the account says: “In that hour [Jesus] cured many of sicknesses and grievous diseases and wicked spirits, and granted many blind persons the favor of seeing. Hence in answer he said to the two: ‘Go your way, report to John what you saw and heard: the blind are receiving sight, the lame are walking, the lepers are being cleansed and the deaf are hearing, the dead are being raised up, the poor are being told the good news. And happy is he who has not stumbled over me.’”—Luke 7:20-23.

Certainly this report was encouraging to John. It was confirmative proof that Jesus was indeed performing the remarkable works that would distinguish the prophet foretold by Moses. Never before had there been such a demonstration of miraculous powers by a man! So John, despite his being left in prison, had the assurance that Jesus was the one and only prophet who fulfilled what Moses had foretold

Why would the question be did John lack faith? Have you

not taken to heart what Peter wrote? Did he not say that

it is very difficult for someone to be saved. Jesus also

said that few would be saved. Are you in fact judging

John the Baptist who Jesus said was greather that a

Prophet? You are threading on dangerous ground.

There might have been false prophets before Jesus. They might have claimed they could heal the sick or make the blind see. Therefore, John sent two of his most trusted people to go see for themselves so that if Jesus was the Messiah (which He most definitely is) then John could speak about Jesus in that way.

A conundrum indeed,

May I invite you to slightly shift your perception so that you may take on board what I understand this to be about.

First of all, we'd need to read the characters of the bible as if they are states of being, states of mind, representing certain beliefs and capacities. John represents, therefore, the character of mind who is greatly benevolent and charitable, hence Jesus telling us about his position in relation to the lowest in heaven, yet he has no understanding of the kingdom of God - he is the Herald of the one who has the creative power and wisdom to transform the world.

Secondly, this one who is able to transform the world, called in the Bible, Jesus, comes out of the blue one day, no appointment time, expected as he was. Jesus represents man's awakened imagination - so not just the power to create something from nothing, as we all do every day, but with love and wisdom in abundance, knowing that all are one.

So, imagine that one day, after many years in your life, you playing the role of John, have been telling many people about Jesus and how lovingly powerful he is, and that he must return. You've been imagining all your life on a day-to-day basis - what to eat, where you're gonna go tonight or on holiday, the partner of your dreams etc etc. Then you have a god -given desire - you know, a really big one that will wake up Jesus sleeping in the boat while your world is going to pot - and you imagine yourself in the scene of having or being it, being saved from a disaster or a purposeless existence, to such an extent that it comes true in the not distant future.

You as John will question; 'was that my imagination that was able to not only plant the desire to be saved but actually organised and transformed the world to conform to my being saved?' Even after the works, the deeds, you might still question if your imagination is capable to do all things - Job did and relents in 42:2. But we are told so emphatically in John 1:3 that imagination is creating reality. It is by the Law of Assumption that you do it.

When you are able to accept the fact then John's head can be removed - he goes on decreasing while Jesus goes on increasing - how? through practise, which is continual forgiveness.

So, it is not so much lack of faith as incredulity. It's so amazing to discover your imagination is the one spoken of in scripture, then to catch it in the act of bringing something to you that you created! You may think there must be a mistake and there must be something more, 'another'.

Hope that helps

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