When the Forerunner Questions the Flame

Even the strongest faith can stumble in the dark.

“Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”

—Luke 7:19

We talk about doubters like Thomas. But what about John?

John the Baptist—the wilderness prophet, the voice crying out, the one who prepared the way—had once declared, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” He recognized Jesus from the womb. He baptized Him. He heard the voice from heaven.

And yet…

From a prison cell, weary and facing death, John sends his disciples to Jesus with a question that stuns:

“Are you the one… or should we look for another?”

Why?

Because faith doesn’t always falter from lack of knowledge—it can stumble under the weight of unmet expectations.

John had preached fire, judgment, wrath. He expected the Messiah to come with an axe, ready to strike the root. But Jesus came with healing. With mercy. With gentle hands and open arms. A Messiah who dined with sinners and delayed judgment.

So John asked.

And Jesus, with compassion, sent back a report:

The blind see. The lame walk. The deaf hear. The dead are raised. The good news is preached to the poor.