The life of John had been one of active labor, and the gloom and inaction of his prison life weighed heavily upon him. As week after week passed, bringing no change, despondency and doubt crept over him. His disciples did not forsake him. They were allowed access to the prison, and they brought him tidings of the works of Jesus, and told how the people were flocking to Him. But they questioned why, if this 215 new teacher was the Messiah, He did nothing to effect John's release. How could He permit His faithful herald to be deprived of liberty and perhaps of life?

Johannes havde levet sit liv i virksomt arbejde, og fængslets mørke og lediggang var en tung byrde for ham. Eftersom uge efter uge svandt hen, uden at der skete nogen forandring, sneg modløshed og tvivl sig ind i hans hjerte. Hans disciple svigtede ham ikke. De fik tilladelse til at besøge ham i fængslet, og de bragte ham efterretninger om Jesu gerninger og fortalte,hvordan folket rokkedes om ham. Men de forstod ikke, hvorfor denne nye lærer, hvis han var Messias, ikke gjorde noget for at udvirke, at Johannes blev frigivet. Hvordan kunne han dog tillade, at hans trofaste budbringer blev berøvet friheden og måske endog livet?