Luke 7:19
And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
Original Language Analysis
Historical Context
Jewish messianic expectation in the first century emphasized military deliverance and political restoration of Israel's kingdom. The Dead Sea Scrolls reveal expectations of two messiahs (priestly and kingly) and violent overthrow of Gentile oppression. John's ministry proclaimed imminent judgment (Luke 3:7-17), preparing people for a conquering Messiah. Jesus' actual ministry—healing the sick, raising the dead, preaching good news to the poor—fulfilled Isaiah 35:5-6 and 61:1-2 but didn't match popular militant expectations. John's question reflects this theological tension between expectation and reality.
Questions for Reflection
- What does John's doubt teach about the reality of faith struggles even among the most spiritually mature believers?
- How does Jesus' first coming in grace (to save) versus His second coming in judgment (to judge) explain the timing questions John struggled with?
- In what ways do our own expectations of how God should work sometimes blind us to how He is actually working?
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Analysis & Commentary
And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? John's question uses the phrase ὁ ἐρχόμενος (ho erchomenos, "the Coming One"), a messianic title referencing Malachi 3:1 and Psalm 118:26. The alternative—"or look we for another" (ἢ ἄλλον προσδοκῶμεν, ē allon prosdokōmen)—reveals genuine uncertainty. This is remarkable because John had previously identified Jesus as "the Lamb of God" (John 1:29), seen the Spirit descend on Him (John 1:32-34), and declared "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30).
Why does John doubt? Several factors converge: prolonged imprisonment tests faith; John expected Messiah to bring immediate judgment ("the axe is laid unto the root," Luke 3:9; "he will throughly purge his floor," 3:17), but Jesus was healing, teaching, and dining with sinners rather than overthrowing Rome or executing judgment on the wicked. John's question is not apostasy but perplexity—his theology needs recalibration. Jesus' ministry of grace must precede His return in judgment. The present age is the "acceptable year of the Lord" (4:19), not yet "the day of vengeance of our God" (Isaiah 61:2, which Jesus conspicuously did not quote in the Nazareth synagogue).