There’s a life nugget tucked away in the gospels that easily escapes the eye. And only Luke, the doctor, recorded it. Luke’s gospel has this uniqueness. In telling his story, he uses a scalpel, not a blunt axe; he catches the minute details like only a medical professional would. Luke adds a valuable detail to the account of the last days of John the Baptist.

John, Jesus’ cousin, was a wild man – in the very essence of the word. He was a Nazarite (the barber’s door and his shadow never touched). He lived out in the desert and fed on locusts and wild honey. He wore hairy camel skin, with a leather girdle for a belt. Quite the sight he was – this more than six feet tall prophet in Israel, the first in 400 years. If ever there was anyone whose parents understood their kid’s life purpose, it was John the Baptist’s folks. John was their child of promise, the herald of Jesus’ coming. And his message was simple: Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand! And then when the Pharisees responded, John cried out, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” How many times have you witnessed a pastor rebuking people for responding to his message?

When Jesus shows up to be baptized at the shore of the river Jordan, God shows up like never before – in three persons – Father, Son, Holy Spirit. That day marked the beginning of the end of John’s ministry. John spoke to power. For taking his brother’s wife, John publicly shamed King Herod. One thing leads to another and John is thrown into jail. Prophets who rebuke errant kings are usually guaranteed no joy.

Are you struggling with doubts in the middle of painful circumstances?

In these perilous time we live in, none of us are spared sorrow or pain. If you are roller-coasting along, it won’t be long before agony accosts you. All of us experience seasons when we feel abandoned and on the edge of life. So did John the Baptist. As he sat in that dingy and filthy underground prison waiting execution, he was afflicted with doubts about this Jesus that his life had been all about.

“Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” Luke’s gospel records that as John The Baptist’s message to Jesus, from his prison cell.

WHAT! John? Dude! Have you quickly forgotten your life purpose? [That’s me shaking my head.] Jesus? No, He was not offended. He loved John. Just like He loves us, even when we doubt His goodness. He invited John’s two disciples to witness as He healed and delivered many. Jesus responded to John’s question with more than simple words. “In that hour He cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits; and to many who were blind He gave sight.” By this one display of power, Jesus certified that He is the promised Messiah by pointing to the fulfillment of the promises that God had made through His prophets.

Then with a re-assuring but poignant look, He turned to the two and said, “Go and tell John the things which you have seen and heard: that the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me.” Jesus knew John would recognize Isaiah’s prophecy in those words. This promise would bring the peace John needed to sustain him for the few difficult days he had remaining before his head would be served up on a platter to Herodias, the scorned and vengeful mistress-turned-wife. Jesus excluded Isaiah’s phrase “to proclaim liberty to the captives.” Jesus knew liberty would apply differently for His cousin.

And then Jesus says of John: “For I say unto you, among those that are born of women, there is none greater than John the Baptist.” This, right after John questioned who Jesus was. Wow. Dumbfounding! What affirmation. #Sunday