Luke 7:18- 35  John the Baptist seems to have had a moment of doubt.  He had known since before his birth the power of the Holy Spirit in his life. He had witnessed the Holy Spirit coming like a dove and filling Jesus at His baptism.  He was a chosen prophet of God.. but in a time of persecution and imprisonment.. his faith faltered just a bit.  So, he sent two of his disciples to go to Jesus and ask Him if He was the Expected One... 

Sometimes we feel strong in our faith and stand firm in the Truth... but sometimes we are tempted to question what we have known, heard, and seen.  Jesus did not condemn John's questioning.. He simply answered the question with proof.. "He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He granted sight to many who were blind."  Everything that Jesus did was fulfilling the prophecy for the Messiah. (Isaiah 35:5 and 61:1ff)  The messengers took this back to John.  What a blessing that must have been to them as well as to John in those final days. 

Jesus spoke well of John saying that he was more than just a prophet, but the one who had been sent to prepare His way. He deserved to be honored for he completed the work that the Father had created him to do... "yet... " Jesus continued, "he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.. "  The people who heard this believed that this was a "just" statement.  They had believed John's message and they were coming to believe in Jesus. 

The Pharisees and lawyers were a different story.. they "rejected God's purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John."  Jesus called them a generation who acted like children.. condemning John for his ministry.. and condemning Jesus for His. They ignored the Word of God, they did not hear the Truth being spoken for they had hardened their hearts. 

Father in heaven,  help us in our moments of doubt and fear, to turn our eyes back to Jesus.. to see, to hear, and to know Him by His Word and by His Works.  Help us, Father, to grow in faith and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. May we exalt Your Holy Name and live according to Your Word and Your Spirit as we walk in difficult times.. and in peaceful times too.  Lord, You know us completely and You alone can bring us to the fulness of Christ in whom we abide.  Let Your will be done we pray, Amen.