JOHN’S QUESTION: IS JESUS THE PROMISED ONE?

III SUNDAY OF ADVENT: Mt 11:2-11

John the Baptist is more than a prophet

After a long time of silence, without a prophetic voice to guide the people in the ways of the Lord, John the Baptist came. He came as a prophet, bold and courageous like all the prophets of old, powerful in words and deeds. However, Jesus would tell the crowd that John was "much more than a prophet", because he was the messenger sent to prepare the way of the Messiah, in such a way that "among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist" (Mt 11:9-11).

John was great by his role as the forerunner of the Messiah, and he was great by his faithfulness up to the end. He remained always true to himself, because he was steadfastly loyal to his call and his mission. In the wilderness, he became a free man, who could not be tossed around like a reed shaken by the wind. He had put himself totally at the service of the Lord, and nothing else could influence him or turn him away from his duty.

John’s question to Jesus

Being presented as more than a prophet, we may think of him as superman, but he was not so. In prison, waiting for execution, he experienced what most saints experience, the dark night of the soul, where hope and faith seem to be fallacies. Then, only love goes on giving a reason to trust; and John sent his disciples to ask Jesus: "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?" (Mt 11:3).

John's question has been the question of so many, which goes on being repeated: Are you the one, or should we look for someone else? When we pass through moments of darkness in our lives, this same question invades our hearts: Are we not mistaken? Have we pursued but a dream? It seems as if we have lost Him or as if He is hiding from us. And we cannot rest until we find him again. And like John, we must ask others to help us find Him who gives rest and life to our souls (Song of songs, 5:8).

Jesus came with mercy and love

The answer of Jesus was reassuring: "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the 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. And blessed is anyone who takes no offence at me" (Mt 11:4-6).

Jesus came to bring forth God's merciful love that give life and salvation.  In him, God's promise made by Isaiah comes true: 

"Be strong, do not fear!

Here is your God.

He will come with vengeance,

with terrible recompense.

He will come and save you.”

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,

and the ears of the deaf unstopped;

then the lame shall leap like a deer,

and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy" (Is 35:4-6).