Why did John the Baptist ask Jesus if he was the Messiah?

[Zosimus41]

When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their towns. 2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds Christ had done, he sent his disciples to ask a question: 3 “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” 4 Jesus answered them, “Go tell John what you hear and see

 

[cjmclark]

When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their towns. 2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds Christ had done, he sent his disciples to ask a question: 3 “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” 4 Jesus answered them, “Go tell John what you hear and see

From the NAB footnotes:

• [11:3] The question probably expresses a doubt of the Baptist that Jesus is the one who is to come (cf. Mal 3:1) because his mission has not been one of fiery judgment as John had expected (Mt 3:2).

• [11:5–6] Jesus’ response is taken from passages of Isaiah (Is 26:19; 29:18–19; 35:5–6; 61:1) that picture the time of salvation as marked by deeds such as those that Jesus is doing. The beatitude is a warning to the Baptist not to disbelieve because his expectations have not been met.

So it would seem that John the Baptist was possibly expecting someone a bit more into hellfire and damnation than Jesus was.

 

[po18guy]

The NAB notes were widely criticized and have been replaced in the NABRE. The danger here is that, if John the Baptist doubted, then it is natural for us also to doubt. Think of this: Would God’s own prophet, after proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah, then have doubt and broadcast that doubt? Doubt is the opposite of faith and comes from the evil one (Genesis 3).

Let’s go to a known faithful and orthodox source: the Haydock Commentary.

Ver. 3. Art thou he that is to come?[1] (Greek, who cometh?) i.e. the Messias. John the Baptist had already, on several occasions, declared that Jesus was the Messias. (John i). He could not then doubt of it himself, but sent his disciples to take away their doubt. (Witham) — St. John the Baptist sent his disciples not to satisfy his own doubts, but for the sake of his disciples, who, blinded by the love they bore their Master, and by some emulation, would not acknowledge Christ to be the Messias. (St. Chrysostom in Baradius) — This expression of St. John is much taken notice of, as conveying with it a very particular question. “Tell me, says St. John, now that I am departing out of this world, whether thou art coming to redeem the patriarchs and holy fathers; or wilt thou send another?” (St. Thomas Aquinas) — And St. Chrysostom also explains it thus, Art thou he that art to come to limbo? but the Baptist omitting this last word, sufficiently indicated to our Saviour what was the purport of this question. St. Jerome and St. Gregory say, that by his death, he was going to preach to the holy fathers that Christ, the Messias, was come. John does not here propose this question as ignorant of the real case, but in the same manner as Christ asked where Lazarus was laid. So John sends his disciples to Jesus, that seeing the signs and miracles he performed, they might believe in him. As long, therefore, as John remained with his disciples, he constantly exhorted them to follow Jesus; but now that he is going to leave them, he is more earnest for their belief in him. (St. Thomas Aquinas)

 

[cjmclark]

The NAB notes were widely criticized and have been replaced in the NABRE. The danger here is that, if John the Baptist doubted, then it is natural for us also to doubt. Think of this: Would God’s own prophet, after proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah, then have doubt and broadcast that doubt? Doubt is the opposite of faith and comes from the evil one (Genesis 3).

Let’s go to a known faithful and orthodox source: the Haydock Commentary.

Apologies, that was from the NABRE.

But for those D-R fans out there, sure, why not Haydock?

http://www.afterhysteria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/zoidberg.png

 

[WTSherman]

My interpretation was that John was confirming what he thought was real, seeing if it really was. Of course you would ask!

 

[po18guy]

Apologies, that was from the NABRE.

But for those D-R fans out there, sure, why not Haydock?

Doubt is universally portrayed in the negative. The NABRE is still teaching doubt? Ugh!

Fr. Mitch Pacwa, I believe, teaches that it was also a Rabbinical practice to lead others to the truth by questioning it and sending them to find out for themselves. If John’s disciples had not begun to follow Jesus even after John proclaimed Him as the Messiah, how else would their hearts be opened?

 

[mexolic]

John the Baptist recognized Jesus at the Jordan River(John1:29). I guess John was
inquiring about Jesus to see if he was the one without having seen him again.

 

[Rainaldo]

When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their towns. 2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds Christ had done, he sent his disciples to ask a question: 3 “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” 4 Jesus answered them, “Go tell John what you hear and see

No, John did not doubt. John saw the dove and heard the voice like everyone else. He sent his disciples because they were still hanging around when by then they should have all gone over to Jesus. Since John heard that Jesus had already started performing the other confirmatory signs that Jesus was The One - remember, there was a delay after Jesus’ Baptism before he officially started his ministry - he took the opportunity to set his own disciples straight.

John was being polite and pretending he was the one with the question instead of telling his own disciples to quit following himself, because he wanted his own disciples to see for themselves instead of having to be told what to think about Jesus. Because at some point, even if you are someone’s disciple, you can’t spend the rest of your life waiting for your guru or whatever to tell you what to think. John’s ministry was pretty much wrapped up by then, and he would be dead shortly anyway.

Jesus knew what John was up to the instant the disciples asked the question. Jesus’ response basically was, “Seriously, guys? You need to be told? Why is it obvious to everyone but you?”

Hopefully, the disciples would go back and recite everything Jesus was doing, and once they realize what they are saying, stop themselves in mid-sentence, do a facepalm, then turn around and leave to go follow Jesus instead.

That’s what Jesus meant when he talked about celebrating while the bridegroom is here, and about going out to see a reed blown by the wind.