We have here to ask, dearest brethren, why John a prophet, and now more than a prophet, who had testified to the Lord as He came to the baptism of the Jordan, saying: Behold the lamb of God, behold Him who taketh away the sins of the world (John 1:29); and who regarding both His humility and the power of His divinity, declared: He that is of the earth, of the earth he speaketh. He that cometh from Heaven, is above all (John 3:31), now in prison, sending his disciples, enquired: Art thou he that art to come, or look we for another?

As if he knew not Him whom he himself had pointed out; as if he now were ignorant of Him Whom he had himself proclaimed, by prophesying concerning Him, by baptizing Him, by pointing Him out to others. But this question is quickly solved if both the time and the order of the event be considered. By the water of the Jordan he had asserted that He was the Redeemer of the world; now, thrown into prison, he enquires if He is to come, not because he doubts that He is the Redeemer of the world, but he seeks to learn whether He Who, of His own will, came into the world, will also, of His own will, descend into hell? He who, by going before Him, had announced Him to the world, the same, now dying, goes down before Him into Hell.