Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
Jesus taught us to visit people who are unjustly persecuted and imprisoned (Matt. 25:34-46). But there is no record that He visited His faithful but persecuted forerunner, John the Baptist, whom King Herod had unjustly imprisoned in a dungeon (Mark 6:17).
At this time Jesus was free to travel about Galilee and preach; in fact, he was enjoying halcyon days with crowds following Him. Poor John, whom Christ had designated as the greatest of the prophets (Matt. 11:11), at this time was languishing in his dungeon, alone, virtually living on the meager reports his disciples were able to bring him of the work Jesus was doing. John longed for Jesus to assert His Messiahship. When it should happen of course would also mean John's release and he would join the Messiah in the grand work to be done. Don't blame him if he day-dreamed a bit. He was quite human.
But the weary days dragged by without a visit from Jesus, not even a letter. Was the Messiah oblivious of the lonely suffering of His servant?
No, but John was still cooperating with Jesus, though he didn't realize just how he shared that honor. Jesus thought of the unnumbered believers in Him who in centuries to come would suffer alone in prisons, tempted likewise to think themselves forsaken and hopeless. Surely He thought also of those who would lie on beds of illness tempted to think themselves forgotten by Heaven.
The truth was that while Jesus was enjoying those bright days of ministry in Galilee before "the shadow of a cross arose upon that lonely hill," He did think of John suffering in his dungeon; He appreciated his loyalty. The lonely prophet has been a comfort to all the apparently forsaken sufferers ever since. Behold them--Jesus and John standing hand in hand together in ministry! Now may you and I accept gladly our fellowship with Him in ministry!
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: May 2, 2005.
Copyright © 2011 by Robert J. Wieland.
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