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THE KING’S BUSINESS
Lamb of God and Son of God (John 1:33, 29, 34) . But John was not perfect; he was human; and when his active spirit was shut up in prison, doubts began to come, as they are so likely to come to a man of intense activity when he is obliged to sit still and wait (cf. 1 Kings 19:3, 4). Many find diffi culty in reconciling John’s present question ing with his former clear faith; but those who know men, even the mightiest men of .God, and especially those who'know their own hearts with their moments of clear vision and unquestioning faith, will find this story most natural. Indeed, it would never have been fabricated in. this way, but it bears the evidence of its genuineness on its face. But John iti his doubt did the wisest thing any man can do in his doubt; he went right to Jesus Himself with it. He was not clear for the time being that Jesus was “the Coming One,” but he was . clear that Jesus’ testimony about Himself was to be accepted. Such a doubter will not remain long a doubter. If those who today doubt that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God, would only go right to Him and ask, He would soon tell them. John’s question was right to the point, “Art thou the Com- ® .One (the one whom all the prophets from Moses, to Malachi foretold was to come as the fulfiller of God’s promises to and glorious plans for His people), or look we for another?” The .thought very likely had come to John, if He is the Coming-One, why does He delay to manifest Himself is King and dethrone Herod and set me free? At the very hour John’s messengers arrived Jesus was giving ocular demonstration that He was the Coming One by curing diseases and plagues, opening: the eyes of the blind and casting out evil spirits. For an answer to John, He simply points John’s two mes sengers to what they see going on before their very eyes and the glad testimonies that they hear. “Go tell John what things ye have seen and heard.” Then follows the catalogue of Divine works accomplished be fore their eyes, or testified to in their aston ished ears. These things were the signs predicted of the Messiah (Isaiah 35:5, 6, 7:
42:6, 7; 61:1-3). Jesus constantly appealed to His miracles as proof that He was Mes siah and Son of God (John 5':36; 14:11; 15: 24). In the present instance the things John’s disciples heard reached even to the raising of the dead. The son of the' widow of Nain had been recently raised (vs. 11- 17), and quite likely was among those about Jesus on this day. Jesús added a gentle word of warning and reproof for John, “Blessed is he, whosoever shall find none occasion of stumbling in me.” This was a reference to Old Testament prediction con cerning the Messiah (Isaiah 8:14, 15). Monday, November 15. Luke 7 :24-35. Jesus had sent to John a word of cheer and a word of reproof* but when the mes sengers were out of hearing, Jesus gave to the multitude a glowing testimony to John’s worth and greatness. As he had been shaken for a moment in his faith, he might seem like “a reed shaken with the wind,” ■but he was hot. Neither was he a man seek ing his own glory and comfort, “gorgeously apparelled, and living delicately.” He was “a prophet,” a man directly commissioned, sent and inspired of God, authoritatively declaring God’s mind to men (cf. Luke 1: 76; 20:6) ; but he was more than that. He was himself the subject of Old Testament prophecy, one of whom .the great prophets of olden time had spoken (Mai. 3:1-4, 5; 6;? Isaiah 40:3; cf. Luke 1:15-17, 76; John 1: 23). He was the one chosen from the whole human race to be the messenger before the face of the Son of God to prepare the way before Him. John the Baptist filled one of the loftiest offices ever filled by man. Among purely human beings there is none greater thán John the Baptist. And yet the Son of God was so much greater than John that the latter was not worthy to bear His shoes (Matt. 3:11; John 1:27). Buf great as John was, the forerunner of Christ and pre paring the way for the Kingdom, he was not yet in the Kingdom, and one who is “but little” (R. V.), but,really “in the King dom of God” is greater than he. We today see and hear things which prophets desired
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