What Did Jesus Say to John the Baptist’s Disciples?

When John the Baptist was imprisoned, he began to doubt whether Jesus was truly the Messiah that he had been proclaiming. He sent his disciples to ask Jesus if He was the one they had been waiting for, or if they should be looking for someone else. Jesus’ response is recorded in Matthew 11:4-6:

“Jesus replied, ‘Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 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.’”

This answer may seem cryptic at first, but it contains several key elements that reveal Jesus’ identity as the Messiah.

Firstly, Jesus tells John’s disciples to report what they “hear and see.” This implies that Jesus is performing miracles that only the Messiah could do. In fact, many of these miracles were foretold by Old Testament prophets as signs of the Messiah’s coming (Isaiah 35:5-6).

Secondly, Jesus mentions that “the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” This echoes another prophecy about the Messiah from Isaiah 61:1: “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.”

Finally, Jesus pronounces a blessing on those who do not stumble because of Him. This could refer to those who believe in Him despite opposition or persecution from others.

In essence, Jesus’ response to John’s disciples affirms His identity as the long-awaited Messiah. He points them towards prophesied signs that only He could fulfill and declares Himself as one who brings good news and spiritual blessings.

Ultimately, this exchange between John’s disciples and Jesus provides us with a powerful reminder of who Jesus is and what He came to do. It encourages us to look beyond our doubts and fears, and to trust in Jesus as the true Messiah and Savior of the world.