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MENTAL HEALTH-JOHN THE BAPTIST’S FAITH AND DOUBT (LUKE 7:18-35)

REFLECTION

Mental Health is the theme for our reflection. The World Health Organisation defined Mental health as a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community. We shall reflect on the fact that faith in Christ enables us to cope with mental health issues and doubts.

John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, 19 he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” 20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’” (Luke 7:18-20) In Matthew’s account of the Gospel, we are told that John the Baptist was in prison when he sent his disciples to Jesus. “When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Matthew 11:2-3) He was in prison because “…Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife” (Mark 6:17-18) A cursory look at Luke 7:18-20 leads us to a bizarre question: did John the Baptist doubt if Jesus was truly the Messiah? John the Baptist initially expected that Jesus Christ’s coming would bring deliverance to the Jews. It seems his expectations were not being met. It was indeed a challenging time for John the Baptist, especially when he had preached about the coming of the Messiah and even baptised Him. Again, he would have experienced depression and doubts because the Messiah was present, yet He could not set Him free from prison.

John the Baptist experienced some level of depression and despair or mental health issues because he felt ignored or abandoned by God. In his doubt, depression and despair, he wanted a confirmation from Jesus if He was truly the Messiah. Beloved in the Lord, some people in our prisons are victims of injustice. They are in prison because they said and did what was just and right in a corrupt system. Some of our brothers and sisters are in prison because their deeds exposed the evil deeds of some of those in power. Many have suffered and continue to suffer this fate in Africa and other parts of the world, where the justice system has been destroyed by corrupt leaders. We can imagine the mental torture, depression, spiritual, physical and emotional struggles our Christian brothers and sisters have to go through daily in prison. The mental health of prisoners, in general, is important, but the mental health of those who have been jailed without trial for political and mischievous reasons needs our utmost support and encouragement, even as they suffer injustice. Some have been jailed through an unfair trial.

The words of Jesus will surely rekindle the hope and faith of John the Baptist. In other words, Jesus’ ability to do what is humanly impossible is a sign to convince John the Baptist that He was the Messiah when he said, “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. 23 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” (Luke 7:22-23) John the Baptist needed the above confirmation to put his mind at rest and to convince him that his ministry of preparing the way before the coming of Christ had been successful.

Anyone who finds him or herself in this situation will ask questions such as Did I do the right thing? Was my service to God and my country worth it? Are my prayers being heard by Jesus? Beloved in the Lord, John the Baptist had a similar experience. We have a mandate as disciples of Jesus to go to the prisons to preach and assure both the innocent, the repented convicts and those who are yet to be saved that Jesus “is the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through him.” ( John 14:6) Paul makes it abundantly clear in 1 Timothy 4:10 that “For to this end we toil and strive because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.” Our main purpose in this world, no matter the situation we find ourselves in, is to have salvation in Jesus. Finally, Romans 8:28 reassures us that “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”

In summary, we have learnt that faith can help us cope with mental health issues and doubt. The Lord never gives up on us; His plans and purposes are for our good. Shalom.

PRAYER

DEAR GOD, AWAKEN THE CHURCH TO EXTEND HER MINISTRY OF HOPE TO OUR BROTHERS AND SISTER IN OUR PRISONS. MAY THEIR HOPE AND FAITH BE REKINDLED THROUGH THE TESTIMONIES OF YOUR GRACE AND OUR LOVE FOR THEM. AMEN.