Pointing to Christ: John Calvin on Faith, Ministry, and the Offense of the Gospel
John the Baptist
Matthias Grünewald ca. 1480 – 1528, close up of John the Baptist, oil on panel — 1510-1515, Museum Unterlinden Museum, Colmar.
In his commentary on Matthew 11:1–6 and Luke 7:18–23, John Calvin offers a profound theological meditation on John the Baptist’s inquiry into Jesus’ identity. Calvin begins by highlighting Jesus’ steadfast dedication to his ministry. Even as the Apostles embarked on their missions, Christ continued teaching and preaching in Galilee. Calvin underscores the significance of the term “commanding,” noting that it reveals the Apostles’ role as emissaries bound by Christ’s explicit instructions. They were not free to act according to their own judgment but were entrusted with a clear mandate to guide their message and conduct.
Calvin next addresses John the Baptist’s decision to send his disciples to question Jesus. He rejects the notion that John sought personal reassurance about Jesus’ identity. Fully convinced that Jesus was the Christ, John’s purpose was not to resolve his own doubts but to fortify the faith of his disciples. Nearing the end of his life, John perceived that, despite his efforts to prepare them for Christ, his disciples remained uncertain. Concerned they might falter after his death, John devised this final act to redirect their allegiance to Jesus. Calvin presents this as a model for all ministers, emphasizing their duty to lead others to Christ rather than cultivating personal followings. Like Paul, John exemplified a ministry grounded in humility, willingly diminishing so that Christ might increase. Calvin exhorts all Gospel ministers to adopt this same self-effacing posture.
When John’s disciples posed the question, “Are you he who was to come?” Calvin interprets their inquiry as rooted in Jewish Messianic expectations. It was not a matter of doubting whether the Messiah would come but of discerning whether Jesus was indeed the promised Redeemer. Calvin observes that their question subtly reflected their own lingering hesitations. From this, he draws a broader lesson about faith: true faith rests in Christ alone and does not seek assurance from any other source.
Jesus’ response to the disciples, pointing to his miracles and invoking Isaiah, is, for Calvin, a masterful and instructive reply. By directing them to his works, Jesus offered evidence that fulfilled the prophetic descriptions of the Messiah’s reign. Calvin explains that these miracles were not mere displays of power but outward signs of Christ’s deeper mission as the healer of souls, offering spiritual deliverance to the afflicted. Particularly striking to Calvin is Jesus’ emphasis on the poor and marginalized, which he contrasts with humanity’s prideful tendency to esteem grandeur and worldly power. The Gospel, Calvin reminds us, is a message for the humble, and its rejection by the wealthy and influential should not disturb believers.
Calvin concludes with Jesus’ statement: “Blessed is he who is not offended by me.” Here, Calvin explores the inherent challenges of faith. Christ’s humility and suffering are a “rock of offence” to human pride, and his spiritual kingdom, which calls believers to share in his afflictions and renounce worldly glory, is despised by the world. Yet Calvin offers reassurance: these stumbling blocks are overcome by grace. True faith perseveres, unmoved by the world’s contempt or Satan’s attempts to sow doubt. Those who remain steadfast amid these trials are blessed.
For Calvin, this passage conveys enduring lessons for both ministers and believers. Ministers, like John, must direct their followers to Christ, fostering reliance on him alone. Believers, in turn, are called to embrace humility, recognize their spiritual poverty, and resist the world’s allure or the discouragements of faith’s trials. Above all, Calvin urges unwavering trust in Christ, whose mission fulfills God’s promises and whose grace extends hope and salvation to even the lowliest sinner.
