Jesus did not interpose to deliver His servant. He knew that John would bear the test. Gladly would the Saviour have come to John, to brighten the dungeon gloom with His own presence. But He was not to place Himself in the hands of enemies and imperil His own mission. Gladly would He have delivered His faithful servant. But for the sake of thousands who in after years must pass from prison to death, John was to drink the cup of martyrdom. As the followers of Jesus should languish in lonely cells, or perish by the sword, the rack, or the fagot, apparently forsaken by God and man, what a stay to their hearts would be the thought that John the Baptist, to whose faithfulness Christ Himself had borne witness, had passed through a similar experience!

Jesus greb ikke ind for at befri sin tjener. Han vidste, at Johannes var i stand til at bestå prøven. Frelseren ville med glæde være kommet til Johannes for at lyse i fængslets mørke ved sin egen nærværelse. Men han havde ikke lov til at risikere at falde i fjendens hånd og bringe sin egen virksomhed i fare. Med glæde ville han have udfriet sin trofaste tjener. Men for de tusinders skyld, der i de kommende år måtte vandre fra fængslet til døden, var det nødvendigt, at Johannes tømte martyriets bæger. Når Jesu disciple skulle komme til at hensmægte i ensomme celler eller dø for sværdet på pinebænken eller bålet, tilsyneladende svigtet af Gud og mennesker, hvor ville det så være en hjælp for deres sjæl at tænke på, at Johannes Døber, om hvis troskab Kristus selv havde vidnet, havde måttet gennemleve en lignende erfaring.