MPV Commentary

The Imprisoned Baptist's Message to His Master--The Reply,

1. After Jesus finished instructing his twelve disciples, he left that area and traveled to other cities to teach and preach. This was likely a fourth circuit of ministry, although it may have been a series of visits to places they had not yet reached or had previously passed through too quickly.

Jesus' disciples were sent out on this mission, but our Gospel writer does not provide details about their labors. However, Luke's account (Luke 9:6) mentions that they traveled from town to town preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere. Mark's account (Mark 6:12-13) is more explicit, stating that they preached repentance, cast out many demons, anointed oil on many sick people, and healed them.

The practice of anointing with oil was not mentioned in Jesus' instructions to his disciples, but it became a common practice in the early church (see James 5:14). This anointing was not used as medicine, but rather as a sign of the healing power that came through their hands. It symbolized something even more precious.

2. When John heard about the works Jesus was doing while he was imprisoned, he sent his disciples to ask Jesus if he was indeed the Messiah they had been expecting. For background on John's imprisonment, see Mark 6:17-20.