Years ago in high school we sang a song about this story and it’s always stayed with me. I find it very interesting that John wants to confirm that Jesus is the one they’ve been waiting for. I wonder if this was because John desired certainty or if he expected something other than who Jesus is. “Are you the one or should we wait for another?”

I’ve always loved Jesus’ reply and hear it as a great summary of his ministry. “The lame walk, the blind see, the diseased are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.” One theory is that John wanted Jesus to be more of a political and military figure, one who would rid their land of Roman oppression. Instead, Jesus brings healing and care to those who are suffering but the final line can be perplexing, why is good news brought to the poor?

I’m trying to make a connection between the first paragraph and the rest of this reading. I dont think it’s that Jesus felt the need to legitimize John’s identity and ministry after John’s disciples had left, but it sure sounds like it. Jesus calls out those who went out to hear John’s preaching, those who were baptized by John, and asks what they went out into the wilderness to see.

Jesus contrasts what they found in the wilderness with what they would find in a palace. John wasn’t in fine clothing, rather itchy scratchy clothing. This is where the prophet was found. Maybe Jesus is continuing the unexpectedness of God’s work, but it shouldn’t have been a surprise, the prophets of the Old Testament said it would happen this way.

Jesus concludes with a statement about John’s significance but also says that John is the least of those in heaven. God is certainly full of surprises.