John Questions Jesus’ Identity
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Now incarcerated, John sends disciples to ask Jesus whether he is “the one who is to come,” that is, the Messiah. Jesus does not answer this question directly but rather refers the questioners to the miracles he has performed, which in turn allude to various prophecies of Isaiah. It bears noting that messianic expectations during the Second Temple period varied, and the Messiah was not typically imagined to be a miracle worker in Jewish sources (see Messianism).
Matthew 11:2–6
2When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples 3and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” 4Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. 6And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”
Luke 7:18–23
18The disciples of John reported all these things to him. So John summoned two of his disciples 19and sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” 20When the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?’” 21Jesus had just then cured many people of diseases, plagues, and evil spirits, and had given sight to many who were blind. 22And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news brought to them. 23And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”
Translation from the New Revised Standard Version.
Credits
New Revised Standard Version Bible copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 2: Emerging Judaism.
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Josephus on Herod’s Assassination of John the Baptist
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The Punishment of John the Baptist
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Now incarcerated, John sends disciples to ask Jesus whether he is “the one who is to come,” that is, the Messiah. Jesus does not answer this question directly but rather refers the questioners to the miracles he has performed, which in turn allude to various prophecies of Isaiah. It bears noting that messianic expectations during the Second Temple period varied, and the Messiah was not typically imagined to be a miracle worker in Jewish sources (see Messianism).
Related Guide
Ancient Jewish Communal Identities: Early Christians
Related Guide
The Gospels as Jewish Literature
You may also like
John’s Birth and Naming
Luke 1:5–25, 57–66
Josephus on Herod’s Assassination of John the Baptist
Jewish Antiquities 18.116–119
The Punishment of John the Baptist
Mark 6:14–29|Luke 3:18–20
Paul’s Recognition of Jesus as Son of God and Messiah
Mission to the Gentiles
Acts 22:17–21