What did the two disciples of John the Baptist ask Jesus Christ?
John had sent his two disciples to find Jesus. Upon seeing Jesus, the two disciples of John the Baptist asked if He was the Messiah who had been prophesied, or if they should look for another. "Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?” (Matthew 11:3)
The Savior told them to go back to John and tell what they saw and heard. Had I been one of these men, what would I have taken back to John?
- That Jesus had healed those who showed faith in Him and cleansed them of their sins. He healed the blind and deaf, the lame, and He cleansed the lepers and restored life to the dead.
- That Jesus teaches to the poor and whomever opens their hearts and ears and listen.
- That Jesus is the Messiah, and he blesses those who follow Him and listen to His Word, and that I will follow Him.
Why did John send the his disciples to find Jesus? “Did John Doubt That Jesus Was the Messiah?”
John had no doubt who Jesus was when sent his two disciples to seek Him. When one first reads these scriptures, it may seem that John’s faith may have been faltering, but he was actually sending these men out to see for themselves and to follow Him. John had asked them to find out what Jesus had been up to, but it was not for his personal inquiry but for theirs; to help them gain a testimony of the Jesus. Robert J Matthews explains it well, "John knew, as no one else knew, who Jesus was, and he had known it for a long time. He had had revelation from heaven to this effect: he had seen with his eyes, he had heard with his ears, and he had the testimony of the Holy Ghost. … The most satisfactory answer seems to be that John sent his disciples to question Jesus about his identity so that they themselves would at long last realize the truth of what John had been testifying” (A Burning Light: The Life and Ministry of John the Baptist [1972], 92).
What did the Savior say about John the Baptist?
"Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” (Matthew 11:11, Luke 7:28)
In these scriptures, we can see and feel the love and admiration that Jesus had for John.
Why was John the Baptist considered among the greatest prophets?
From the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith:
“First. He was entrusted with a divine mission of preparing the way before the face of the Lord. Whoever had such a trust committed to him before or since? No man.
"He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30 ) What did John the Baptist mean, in this scripture, about his attitude toward the Savior?
John had no doubt who Jesus was when sent his two disciples to seek Him. When one first reads these scriptures, it may seem that John’s faith may have been faltering, but he was actually sending these men out to see for themselves and to follow Him. John had asked them to find out what Jesus had been up to, but it was not for his personal inquiry but for theirs; to help them gain a testimony of the Jesus. Robert J Matthews explains it well, "John knew, as no one else knew, who Jesus was, and he had known it for a long time. He had had revelation from heaven to this effect: he had seen with his eyes, he had heard with his ears, and he had the testimony of the Holy Ghost. … The most satisfactory answer seems to be that John sent his disciples to question Jesus about his identity so that they themselves would at long last realize the truth of what John had been testifying” (A Burning Light: The Life and Ministry of John the Baptist [1972], 92).
What did the Savior say about John the Baptist?
"Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” (Matthew 11:11, Luke 7:28)
In these scriptures, we can see and feel the love and admiration that Jesus had for John.
Why was John the Baptist considered among the greatest prophets?
From the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith:
“First. He was entrusted with a divine mission of preparing the way before the face of the Lord. Whoever had such a trust committed to him before or since? No man.
“Secondly. He was entrusted with the important mission, and it was required at his hands, to baptize the Son of Man. Whoever had the honor of doing that? Whoever had so great a privilege and glory? Whoever led the Son of God into the waters of baptism, and had the privilege of beholding the Holy Ghost descend in the form of a dove, or rather in the sign of the dove, in witness of that administration? The sign of the dove was instituted before the creation of the world, a witness for the Holy Ghost, and the devil cannot come in the sign of a dove. The Holy Ghost is a personage, and is in the form of a personage. It does not confine itself to the form of the dove, but in sign of the dove. The Holy Ghost cannot be transformed into a dove; but the sign of a dove was given to John to signify the truth of the deed, as the dove is an emblem or token of truth and innocence.
“Thirdly. John, at that time, was the only legal administrator in the affairs of the kingdom there was then on the earth, and holding the keys of power. The Jews had to obey his instructions or be damned, by their own law; and Christ Himself fulfilled all righteousness in becoming obedient to the law which He had given to Moses on the mount, and thereby magnified it and made it honorable, instead of destroying it. The son of Zacharias wrested the keys, the kingdom, the power, the glory from theJews, by the holy anointing and decree of heaven, and these three reasons constitute him the greatest prophet born of a woman.
(Smith, Teachings, pp. 275-76)
"He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30 ) What did John the Baptist mean, in this scripture, about his attitude toward the Savior?
John the Baptist loved the Savior and had spent his life preparing the way for Him to come and teach His people. It was now time for John to humble himself and step back and let the Jesus’ ministry flourish. John’s love and service would continue as always and he would still serve in every capacity, but he knew it was time for the Lord to lead His people.
As I read this scripture, I am reminded that, although we are all full-time missionaries, we do not have all the answers. Each day, I pray to Heavenly Father that my light will bring those who are searching for truth and for what may be missing in their lives, to me so I can share the happiness I’ve found in having the Gospel in my life. I know, when I do find those who are seeking to know more, I won’t have all the answers, and I know that it will be time to introduce them to the missionaries or others who can teach them.
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