Why do you think John the Baptist asked this?

Question

After declaring Jesus to be the Lamb of God and baptizing Him, why would John the Baptist while he was in prison ask the following question? Matthew 11:2-3 - "Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, and said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?"

I believe the Bible to be in the inspired Word of God. I'm interested in what you've been able to locate in the scriptures to explain why John the Baptist would ask this question of Jesus.

Answer 1

Jesus himself said and did things not for his own benefit, but for the benefit of men, for the benefit of his apostles.

He would say things in parables, for the meaning of his words were not for the benefit of unbelievers, but believers.

I believe John did send message to Jesus, not that he didn't believe, but so that his followers would believe. For his time on earth was short and his followers had to be made aware that Jesus in the one men must follow, not him.

Answer 2

The Jews were looking for 2 prophecies:

a coming king
the messiah

While Jesus was the messiah and John recognized it, he was not certain if Jesus was the king. He was the king, but many Jews expected a king with political power to overthrow the current powers. Jesus will do that in the future but not at that time.

I want to add that while some here say John didn't really ask it, does not get to the point of this question. John may or may not have had doubts about Jesus' kingship, but John's disciples did, and why was that? Read my answer, or witnessnbr1 answer as well. Or moosemose answer.

Answer 3

Because they were expecting a 'LION' Messiah, not a 'LAMB' one. They were expecting someone to wipe out the 'goyim', for Israel to be restored, and for them to be kings of the world. Unfortunately, they did not understand this...

Act 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
Act 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Act 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

What He actually did was to show people what would happen IN THE 7TH DAY, when all things get restored. That is why He told John's disciples 'if you would not take offense'...because they were expecting 'something else.'

Answer 4

It wasnt John the Baptist that asked , it was the 2 he sent that asked "Art thou he that should come or do we look for another" Jesus answered and said unto them Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see.

Always helps to read a few verses before and after

Answer 5

It's a really simple answer. John, at that point in time, was imprisoned in the fortress of Machaerus (near the Dead Sea). He had been arrested by Herod he tetrarch of Galilee. And all John was getting was'fragments of information' aobut Jesus. So he sent his disciples to get the truth. So the disciples , when they saw Jesus, asked him themselves, "...Are you He that should come, or do we look for another?? Jesus answered, not by giving proof, but by giving evidence. Jesus was the proof - the evidence was the prophet's words being fulfilled in Isaiah 35:5; 61:1.

Answer 6

Christians make a huge error in placing Biblical characters on pedestals. John was human, and experienced times of questioning and faith-shaking, just as all Christians experience.
He was in prison, most likely being tortured physically, mentally and spiritually. There is never any sin in getting back to the Source and looking for confirmation that you are on the right track.

Answer 7

John, a cousin of Jesus, had known from his birth that Jesus was God's son. John was in jail because he told the truth. This was just before he was killed in jail. He wanted reassurance that this was the way things really were because too much had happened. He knew his time was short because he spoke against the rulers and wanted to see the final truth before he died.

Answer 8

Jesus was at the height of his popularity & John was evidently looking, as most Jews, for a Political / Warrior Messiah and couldn't understand why Jesus wasn't taking more "Action" toward that "End". Jesus' answer indicated that he considered His "Miracles" as sufficient evidence of His Messiahship. Notice that Johns' doubt did not lower Jesus' estimation of him as Jesus said "There has not arisen a greater.", meaning John. It was just that the Jews wanted the "Blood" of their "Oppressors" & with "Hardened Hearts" they Rejected anyone who did not "Fit" their "Mold". John

Answer 9

John sent the disciples, but it was not John that asked the question. It was John's disciples that asked this question of Jesus. Look at the next verse, it says, "And Jesus answered them, and said....."
John knew who Jesus was.

Answer 10

John and Jesus did not rub elbows at all. When John heard of Jesus he spoke of the prophet as it was prophecy; John sent the diciples to confirm with Jesus himself his own cliams and in this John realized Jesus was the Messiah, or, "this messiah" of this age...

In short, John was but a man and needed confirmation.