Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 4. Go, and relate, and so forth Saint Luke here relates that Christ wrought more miracles when the disciple of Saint John came than usual, by which he proved in a much stronger manner than he could have done by words, that he was the Messias. For the prophets only wrought miracles by invoking the name of God, whereas he did it by his own authority. S. Cyril.—The reason why our Saviour did not return a plain answer in words to Saint John’s disciples is, because as the Jews expected the Messias to be a great and powerful king, had he acknowledged himself to be the Messias in the presence of the multitude, he might have given umbrage to the secular power, or afforded a pretext to the Scribes and Pharisees of calumniating him, and putting him to death before the time preordained for his passion. Baradius.