Where are you? -Who are you? Was I deceived?

Painting in the Barber Institute, Birmingham,
 by Pierre Purvis de Chavannes

In my mind's eye I see John, the cousin of Jesus Christ, siting in a stinking unhygienic prison cell beneath the palace of Herod in Jerusalem.  John is recalling how when he saw his cousin approaching in the wilderness he had been inspired to call out to the many people who had come to see him, that Jesus (his cousin) was the one to revere.    John saw his role as illuminating the ancient truth that the one who had been prophesied from long ago had at last arrived.  Obeying Jesus, he had performed the ritual washing ceremony, and heard a voice declaring this truth, as if from heaven itself.

But now John was feeling bleak.  He had stuck to his guns, and refused to recant his belief that Herod had done a terrible thing by marrying his brother's wife.  He was going to suffer for this, because it was truly bad for Herod's reputation.  Did Jesus know John was in this pickle?  Did he care?  Could he do anything about it?  Perhaps his cousin was a mere moral after all.  Perhaps John had been ill, or deluded.  

John's friends went at John's behest to seek clarification.  Was John going mad?

The friends came back with this report from Jesus.

“Go and tell John what you see and hear. The blind are made to see. Those who could not walk are walking. Those who have had bad skin diseases are healed. Those who could not hear are hearing. The dead are raised up to life and the Good News is preached to poor people. He is happy who is not ashamed of Me and does not turn away because of Me.” Matthew 11 4-6.

John knew that Jesus had said far more than 'don't worry'.  Jesus was saying there is a purpose here.  It will work out.  There is no easy way out and that Jesus was not going to intervene in the world's power structures.  Indeed Jesus would go on to suffer far more than his cousin.  But the end goal would make the suffering worthwhile.  

Jesus himself said, and no doubt John said it before him, "Not my will oh Lord, but your will be done."

This is Purvis de Chavannes' first picture. 
National Gallery London