Last week the Gospel outlined John the Baptist’s role in preparing for the ministry of Jesus. He baptised with water, preaching repentance and many confessed their sins. He warned the Pharisees and Sadducees in relation to their motives for going out to the Jordan to him. This week we see John in prison. He asks some of his followers to ask Jesus is he the one who is to come or are we to await another? Locked up in jail would make you question what was happening in relation to what you believed in. Jesus’ reply is one of hope — he responds by telling them to inform John of all that he was doing, bringing hope to the people in many different ways in order to bolster John’s faith.