Our passage for study gives us an insight into John the Baptist. We see him as a man facing haunting doubts about Jesus; is Jesus truly the Messiah? We are given a clear description of John's important role and we are introduced to his person: a great man, yet rejected.

v1-5. John was arrested for preaching against Herod, and particularly for insulting Herod's wife, cf. 4:12, 14:3-12. From jail, John hears some disturbing reports. Luke's gospel fills in the details for us in chapter 7. Jesus had just raised a young boy to life in the town of Nain; he was the only son of a widow, Lk.7:11-17. "John's disciples told him about all these things", v18. Obviously John was disturbed, for here was Jesus doing the type of things that Elijah did all those years before. The obvious conclusion for John is that Jesus is the "Elijah of God", as promised in Malachi, 3:1, 4:5, rather than the messiah, the one who would come and establish the kingdom in power, the one who would baptize with the Spirit and with fire, Matt.3:11, cf. Jl.2:21-32. If Jesus were the messiah, John wouldn't be wasting away in prison. So, John sends his disciples to ask Jesus, "are you the coming one?" Jesus' answer, in the end, is only partly helpful, and probably caused John many a sleepless night. In the terms of Isaiah 29:18f, 35:5f, 42:6f, 61:1, Jesus describes his actions as fulfilling the role of the "suffering servant". The servant was certainly a messianic figure, but one shrouded in mystery. So, John got his answer, but he probably ended up with a lot more questions as well.

v6. Jesus reminds his listeners, "happy is the man who does not lose faith in me." In the face of doubt and fear, happy is the person who sticks to Jesus through thick and thin.

v7-10. As John's disciples leave, Jesus comments on John's role and his person. Most people knew of John and many had gone out into the desert to hear him speak. They had not gone out to witness a non-event, or to look upon a rich man. What they had seen was "the Elijah of God" as prophesied in Malachi. John was truly the forerunner of the messiah.

v11. Jesus goes on to speak of John. He was a great man, yet the least member of the kingdom of God is far more privileged than John, and this because the disciple belongs to the time of fulfillment rather than promise. The privileges of a member of the dawning kingdom lie in the outpouring ("baptism") of the Spirit and fire.

v12-14. Here we have a saying not in the parallel passage in Luke, although v12 is recorded elsewhere. The point of the saying is that John has fulfilled his role of ushering in the new age of the kingdom, of ushering in the eternal reign of God. So, verse 12 is probably saying something like: "the kingdom of heaven is pressing its way into the world and communicating its force and enthusiasm to those who receive and enter it," Atkinson. Now is the time of fulfillment. In the Old Testament, this time was promised, in John it was announced, and in Jesus it is inaugurated.

v15. Although John was a great man, he was only a small-time player in terms of the age of fulfillment. Yet, he did usher in this age and it is up to us to grasp onto its blessings.

v16-19. Jesus describes his generation (and in a sense our generation) as a group of fickle children who don't want to play, whatever the game is. The prophet John comes on the scene and many are bemused by him. His bizarre eating habits prompt some to believe he is mad, even worse, that he is possessed, cf. 2 Kings 9:11. Jesus gets the same treatment, Lk.8:33, 11:15. He comes on the scene eating and drinking, as any normal person would, and yet the common view is that he is a hedonist. You can't win! This generation is childishly fickle. It is only the children of God who accept the display of God's wisdom in Christ and John. The children of this age reject it outright in whatever form it appears.

1. The doubts of John. It is normal for us to feel that doubts equate with little faith, so therefore, we tend to hide our doubts and fears - pretend that they don't exist. Yet, doubts are a normal part of the Christian life. The mystery will remain until we see through the glass clearly. Meanwhile, sticking with Jesus is what matters, doubts and all.

2. The witness of John. John witnessed to the coming messiah, and we like John, or even Elijah, are witnesses of the coming day.

3. The greatness of John. Faithfulness is no easy business, especially when we have doubts, or face opposition. Still, striving to follow the pathway set before us is a privilege. We need only remember that our standing in the kingdom gives us a position far greater than John.

4. The rejection of John. We can easily find ourselves the brunt of fickle human nature - attacked and slandered without due cause. Jesus promises that at times this will be our lot. Yet, sadly we ourselves bear that same fickle nature. How often do we meet someone and feel an instant dislike for them? From then on, whatever they do and say is wrong. The danger is we then hide our dislikes, but continue to give vent to them with expressions of self-righteous indignation. We have all said, "he has a demon", "he is a glutton."

Comment on our position of privilege compared to that of John.