John the Baptist’s Question

When John the Baptist, in prison, was sorely tried in faith, and sent his disciples to Christ with the inquiry, “Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?” what did Christ do? Matthew 11:3. The record says: “Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.” Verses 4, 5. Clearly, here, the miracles of our Lord were intended to play a definite part in strengthening the faith of John the Baptist. Commenting on John, our Lord declared:EGWC 72.3

“But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.” John 5:36.EGWC 72.4

Later our Lord declared in the same vein to His disciples: “Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.” John 14:11.EGWC 72.5

When the Holy Ghost fell upon the disciples on the day of Pentecost there was a most spectacular display. The book of Acts suggests that in other early instances of the outpouring of the Spirit there was also a visible display. But there is nothing to indicate that the believers in later apostolic times witnessed a great outward display when they received the Holy Ghost. And we have nothing comparable to Pentecost in any later century.EGWC 72.6