He sets the captives free…

 He sets the captives free…

Day after day of cold, dark, dreary…many begin to feel gray, depressed themselves…a ray of sunshine feels so good… longer daytime hours help the grayness of our minds and souls…

I know several  people who suffer from SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder…my husband suffered from it…we didn’t know that until we  moved back to his home town in the Willamette Valley of Oregon to go to school. Each winter got rougher and rougher, his office had huge windows to let in as much light as possible. When we finally returned to Nevada, his moodiness went away…he was a captive of the  dreary grayness of winter…

Various pictures depict what a Jesus era prison looked like…none had the ambiance of comfort…holes in the ground, caves-dark and dank, stone rooms with chains attached to the walls for captive prisoners, no sanitary conditions, little food…darkness…

I have wondered what John the Baptist felt while he was held in prison….maybe some doubts, did he sing as Paul and Silas later did, did he write as Paul did…we know he had visitors, his disciples, those who followed him…did he question his stance he took against the rulers at the time…did he know he would die there…

He wanted to make sure he was following the right man…

while John was incarcerated, he sent some of his disciples to question Jesus..

 “Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 

And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 

What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 

This is he of whom it is written,“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,who will prepare your way before you.’ Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. 

Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 

From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. 

For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.”

Matt.11.2-14

I think in the dark times of my life, those fraught with pain-both physical and mental… when I felt I was held captive by various events, circumstances…doubts would come …was I following the right truth…I had to go and read the scriptures, the Word, the Truth, finding  my answers as well…dispelling doubt, solidifying my following of Christ…

John the Baptist didn’t come out of that prison…he died there…but, I am sure he ended well,  believing the Truth…knowing he had fulfilled his path in preparing the way of the Lord…

Did he remember the verse from Genesis… But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

Gen.39.21

Thank YOU that You lead the way…giving us the Truth in darkness…

I know whom I have believed…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y94OX71YM-8

https://ebible.com/questions/21354-why-was-john-the-baptist-in-jail-and-for-how-long

https://www.biblewise.com/bible_study/questions/johns-imprisonment.php

https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2022/april/prison-ministry-history-visiting-prisoners-in-jesus-day.html

https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/full/10.1086/684237