To the desert prophet all this seemed a mystery beyond his fathoming. There were hours when the whisperings of demons tortured his spirit, and the shadow of a terrible fear crept over him. Could it be that the long-hoped-for Deliverer had not yet appeared? Then what meant the message that he himself had been impelled to bear? John had been bitterly disappointed in the result of his mission. He had expected that the message from God would have the same effect as when the law was read in the days of Josiah and of Ezra (2 Chronicles 34; Nehemiah 8, 9); that there would follow a deep-seated work of repentance and returning unto the Lord. For the success of this mission his whole life had been sacrificed. Had it been in vain?

For profeten fra ørkenen forekom alt dette at være et uudgrundeligt mysterium. Der var timer, hvor de onde ånders hvisken plagede hans sjæl, og hvor skyggen af en forfærdelig frygt sneg sig ind over ham. Kunne det være muligt, at den så længe ventede befrier endnu ikke havde vist sig? Og hvad betød så det budskab, som han selv var blevet tilskyndt til at forkynde. Johannes var blevet dybt skuffet over udfaldet af sin virksomhed. Han havde ventet, at budskabet fra Gud skulle få den samme virkning, som dengang loven blev forelæst på Josias' og Ezras tid (2Krøn. 34; Nehemias 8,9); at følgen ville blive en dybtgående omvendelse, og at man atter vendte tilbage til Herren. Hele hans liv havde været viet til, at dette kald skulle lykkes. Havde det alt sammen været forgæves?