“But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and one who is more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written, ‘BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU'” (Luke 7:26-27).
John who had obviously grown discouraged in prison, sent messengers to ask if Yeshua was truly the “Expected One” (Luke 7:19). But because he started doubting Yeshua’s identity, he was also implicitly doubting himself. Was his decision to follow Yeshua worth all the struggles, isolation, and sacrifice?
It’s in this context of John’s self-doubt we must consider Yeshua’s affirming words about the Baptizer. Yeshua quotes the first half of Malachi 3:1 about the coming of a special messenger and identifies this messenger as John: “Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me” (Mal 3:1a; Mal 4:5-6 [3:23-24]). It is absolutely essential for us to grasp the implications of Yeshua’s interpretation of this prophecy in Malachi. By testifying that John is this messenger from Malachi 3 who is greater than a prophet, he is also making a jaw-dropping claim about himself! For if John is that messenger, then Yeshua is the “Lord” whose coming the messenger announces in the second half of the same verse: “‘And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,’ says the LORD of hosts” (Mal 3:1b).
Because Yeshua is the Lord who came from heaven to save us, then all the struggles, sacrifices, and isolation we regularly deal with as Yeshua’s disciples are worth it, for who else has the words of eternal life (John 6:68-69)? When we doubt the Savior, we naturally will begin to doubt ourselves. But when we consider Yeshua’s biblical identity, we at once realize the incredible privilege it is to be his disciples, and we are reenergized to count the cost and pay any price.
“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Rom 8:16-18).
