The disciples bore the message, and it was enough. John recalled the prophecy concerning the Messiah, "The Lord hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." Isa. 61:1, 2. The works of Christ not only declared Him to be the Messiah, but showed in what manner His kingdom was to be established. To John was opened the same truth that had come to Elijah in the desert, when "a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire:" and after the fire, God spoke to the prophet by "a still small voice." 1 Kings 19:11, 12. So Jesus was to do His work, not with the clash of arms and the overturning of thrones and kingdoms, but through speaking to the hearts of men by a life of mercy and self-sacrifice.

Disciplene bragte dette budskab, og det var tilstrækkeligt. Johannes mindedes denne profeti om Messias: "Herrens Ånd er over mig, fordi han salvede mig; han sendte mig med glædesbud til ydmyge, med lægedom for sønderbrudte hjerter, for at udråbe frihed for fanger og udgang for dem, som er bundet, udråbe et nådeår fra Herren." Es. 61,1-2. Kristi gerninger forkyndte ikke blot, at han var Messias, men de viste, på hvilken måde hans rige skulle oprettes. Johannes oplevede den samme sandhed, som havde vist sig for Elias i ørkenen, da "et stort og stærkt vejr, der sønderrev bjerge og sprængte klipper, gik foran Herren, men Herren var ikke i vejret. Efter vejret kom der et jordskælv, men Herren var ikke i jordskælvet. Efter jordskælvet kom der ild, men Herren var ikke i ilden." Men efter ilden talte Gud til profeten ved "en stille, sagte susen". 1Kong. 19,11-12. Således skulle også Jesus udrette sin gerning, ikke ved våbenlarm og omstyrtede troner og riger, men ved at tale til menneskers hjerter gennem et liv i barmhjertighed og selvopofrelse.