Matthew 11, 2-11
Now John, in prison, had heard of the works of Christ. He sent his disciples and said: "Art thou he that should come or do we look for another? "
This passage of John at first seems a bit strange. Like John the Baptist heard the voice from heaven when he baptized Jesus (John 1: 32-34), it is difficult to believe that John, while he is in jail, doubted the identity or mission Jesus. One of reviews of the most interesting to understand this passage is a commentary of St. John Chrysostom:
It is impossible to admit that the courage or the faith of John have been in prison a failure. He does not fear death, for he exposed himself to death by taking up with Herod so much courage he had not expected his deliverance. The question posed to Jesus can not come from doubt or ignorance. He had noticed that his disciples, giving way to envy, turned against Jesus. They did not know what Jesus they believed this was a man, while they believed John more than a man. Feeling at the time to die, so he wanted to attach them to Jesus. If he had told them: "Go to him, he is older than me," they would have given this speech to his humility. He wants the facts speak and tell the difference between him and Jesus. So he sends two disciples that he believes are most likely to understand. (St. John Chrysostom: XXXVI homily on the Gospel according to St. Matthew)
Jesus answered them: "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind see and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and deaf hear, the dead rise and the Good News preached to them poor and happy is he who will not stumble because of me! "
These words of Jesus are from the book of Isaiah:
Isaiah 35, 5-6: So to open the eyes of the blind, and deaf ears open. Then will the lame leap like a deer and the mute tongue will shout his joy
Isaiah 61, 1: The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because Yahweh has anointed me and he sent me to bring the news to the poor, heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and prisoners issue
Regarding the last part where Jesus said, "and happy is he who will not stumble because of me," this refers to his death on the cross could Premium on board mislead many. As St. Paul said: " but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles " (1 Corinthians 1, 23). As St. Ambrose says:
The basis of the fullness of faith is the Lord's cross, His death, burial. Therefore he said: "Blessed is he who will not fall because of me! Indeed, the cross could bring down the elected officials themselves, but there is no evidence more of a divine person, which seems nothing more than human forces that sacrifice of one for all: for this alone, the Lord is revealed. And finally this is how John was appointed, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (Ambrose: commentary on the Gospel according to Luke, V 109)
While as these were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go look in the desert? A reed shaken by the wind? So what did you go see? A man dressed in a sensitive manner? But those wearing delicate garments are in the houses of kings. So what did you go to? See a prophet? Yes, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. It is that which it is written, Behold, I send my messenger ahead of you to prepare your way before you. Verily I say unto you, among the children of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist, and yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. "
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