John the Baptist questions Jesus

This story in the gospel of Luke is fascinating when one stays here for a moment and absorbs it. John the Baptist is imprisoned under the regime of Herod Antipas he questions Jesus and doubts whether Jesus may be the one. John the Baptist the one who prepared the way. The very one Jesus said no prophet is greater. The very one who baptized Jesus and kicked off the ministry of Jesus and who in John's gospel is given such certainty of the gospel message. The Lamb of God et cetera in John's gospel. The "glory halleluiah" in Matthew as Dr. Tabor would say when you look at how some of the gospels highlighted the baptism of Jesus as a public epiphany versus a more private revelation.

Mark 1:14-15
"Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee,
preaching the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the Empire of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel"

He looked up at his disciples and said:
Blessed are you who are poor,
because yours is God's reign.
Blessed are you who are hungry,
because you'll be full.
Blessed are you who mourn,
because you'll be comforted.
The Gospel of Q

To bake Faith it requires some of the ingredient of Doubt and vice versa. Doubt is a necessary ingredient for the cake of Faith.
This yin and yang of faith and doubt and how it interplays is an important part of wrestling with genuine spirituality. A spiritual integrity that is not embarrassed with the process of wrestling with God.

"We usually associate doubt with the infamous “Doubting Thomas,” but at first, all the apostles doubted the reports of Christ’s resurrection (Luke 24:11). In the text before us, even the great forerunner, John the Baptist, was struggling with doubt as he languished in Herod’s prison. Although some respectable commentators don’t attribute doubt to the great man, I do not agree. I think that in spite of the fact that John was a great man of God, he was wrestling here with doubt. Through his honest question, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for someone else?” and through Jesus’ reply to John’s disciples and His comments to the crowd, we can learn some things about dealing with our doubt.
These verses fall into three sub-units: John’s question and Jesus’ reply (7:18-23); Jesus’ commendation of John (7:24-28); and, a rebuke to Israel’s leaders for rejecting both John and Jesus in spite of their differences in style (7:29-35). Luke wants his readers to grapple with the question of Jesus’ true identity and with the response of faith His identity demands.
There is debate about whether verses 29 and 30 are Jesus’ words or Luke’s parenthetical explanation. They are probably Luke’s words..."

As one scholar noted when characters in the Bible start to appear to have amnesia... something is going on with the text and context. The author is not concerned with consistency but making a point from the story. When the stories do not appear to fit the question for careful scholars is which story is based on historical ground and which is using a metaphorical story for a theological thrust.
For example is it that John forgot about the glory of the baptism of Jesus and his proclamations of the lamb of God or is it that the historical ground is John wrestling with the apocalyptic promise while being in prison and the first story was a theological story making John appear to have amnesia.

Jesus responded with John's question with the signs that the Empire of God had arrived. Healing, sight to blind, defeat of death, the poor being raised up and the rich brought low.
This is in contrast to the evil generation demands a sign and in Matthew the only sign they will get is the sign of Jonah.

“Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.  Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
 After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind?  If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces.  But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.  This is the one about whom it is written:
“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’ 
 I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John
Lk 7:22–28.

John the Baptizer
the historical Jesus
James the brother of Jesus
the apostle Paul
Mary mother of Jesus
Mary Magdalene
the Dead Sea Scrolls
Hellenistic Religions and the Mystery Religions
Ancient Apocalypticism
the Book of Revelation
the Archaeology of Early Christianity
Digging up Ancient Jerusalem
Gnosticism
Lost Christianities
Introduction to Religious Studies