1 And it came to pass, when Jesiis had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.
2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
3 And said unto nim, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another ?
4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see :
5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them.
6 And blessed is A«, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
7 And as they departed, Jesus be- gan to say unto the multitudes con- cerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see ? A reed shaken with the wind ?
8 But what went you out for to see ?
A man clothed in soft raiment ? be- hold, they that wear soft clotJdng are in kings' houses.
9 But what went ye out for to see ? A prophet ? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.
10 For this is Ae, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
11 Verily I say unto you. Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist ; notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven ia greater than he.
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suifereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.
14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
The first thing that demands our attention in this pas-
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sage, is the message loMcli John the Baptist sends to our Lord Jesus Christ. He " sent two of his disciples, and said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another ?"
This question did not arise from doubt or unbelief on the part of John. We do that holy man injustice, if we interpret it in such a way. It was put for the benefit of his disciples. It was meant to give them an opportunity of hearing from Christ's own lips, the evidence of His divine mission. No doubt John the Baptist felt that his own ministry was ended. Something within him told him that he would never come forth from Herod's prison- house, but would surely die. He remembered the ignorant jealousies that had already been shown by his disciples towards the disciples of Christ. He took the most likely course to dispel those jealousies for ever. He sent his followers to *^ hear and see" for themselves.
The conduct of John the Baptist in this matter affords a striking example to ministers, teachers, and parents, when they draw near the end of their course. Their chief concern should be about the souls of those they are going to leave behind th^m. Their great desire should be to persuade them to cleave to Christ. The death of those who have guided and instructed us on earth ought always to have this effect. It should make us lay hold more firmly on Him who dieth no more, " continueth ever,"' and ^' hath an unchangeable priest- hood." (Heb. vii. 24.)
The second thing that demands our notice in this pas- sage, is the high testimony which our Lord hears to the character of John the Baptist, No mortal man ever