How Can You Be Sure God Cares

Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent world by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” (Matthew 11:2-3)

As Mary entered Elizabeth’s home, John the Baptist, still in his mother’s womb, leapt for joy. As a fetus, he recognized the coming of the Messiah – who was still in his mother’s womb also. He couldn’t see the Savior, didn’t hear his voice, yet, somehow, he knew.

Though they were cousins, there is no evidence John and Jesus ever met until they were adults. Thirty years after John leapt in the womb, he recognized the Messiah again. “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.’” (John 1:29)

Jesus wasn’t wearing an “I AM” t-shirt. He didn’t have a golden halo of light around his head. But still, John knew.

If John had any doubt – which he didn’t – God would have dispelled it. The Spirit descended on Jesus in the form of a dove, and the confession of the Father’s love came from above. John knew Jesus was the Savior.

But there came a moment, a time of desperation. Doubt crept in. John had ticked off the king and was in prison. He wasn’t going back home.

During this dark minute, John needed assurance. So, he sent his disciples to Jesus for a final confirmation. “Are you the one?”

Jesus could have responded with, “Oh you of little faith. How can you doubt? You watched the dove descend. You heard the voice of my Father call me his Son. What more do you need?”

But he didn’t.

Instead, Jesus had compassion, and used a Messianic passage from the book of Isaiah to help John’s disciples see that Jesus was the one. “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have the good news preached to them.” (compare to Isaiah 61:1-2) This was the assurance John needed.

There was one part of the prophecy Jesus left out, however. In Isaiah, it says the Messiah will “proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.” Jesus was telling John, “Yes, I am the one. The Messiah you’ve waited for, preached about, put your faith in has come, but the prison doors I’m going to open are not the ones that hold you.”

This may sound tough, but underneath it is full of hope. John only left the prison after they cut off his head, but the Messiah had come. The prison doors of death would never hold John. There will be tough things you have to face in life – and sometimes it will feel as if God doesn’t show up. But be assured, the Messiah came, and your future is filled with hope.

In what areas do you struggle to remember He is in control?