Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, "Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?" And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is he who takes no offense at me."
Matthew 11:2–6 (RSV)
Every age has speech that is considered 'inappropriate'. In our current time, speech can be a minefield where one can unintentionally deeply offend another person. 'Politically correct speech' often borders on the edge of madness, to the point that one can lose one's job. People will announce which made up pronouns you are to use when referring to them and expect you to brutalize the language to fit their whim.
John the Baptist was in prison for using inappropriate speech. John had pointed out to King Herod that it was not lawful for him to marry his brother's wife while his brother was still alive. Herodias, his wife, who would use her daughter as a sex-toy to get John executed, was deeply offended because John would not use 'proper' language when speaking about her and her new husband, Herod.
John was intelligent enough to understand his situation. Those who hold political power care little for truth and will torture words until they say what they want them to mean. They also will deal with anyone who has the poor taste to refuse to pretend that they are speaking lies. John knew that at best, he wasn't getting of Herod's prison anytime soon.
John had time to think in prison. He had time to go over all he had believed, done, and said. He had time to consider what God's purpose for his life might be. John had proclaimed Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Now he was beginning to wonder if he had discerned things well.
'Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?' John needed to know if he was putting his life on the line for the will of God. If he was going to face death for his words and witness, John needed to know his life had served the right purpose.
'Go and tell John what you hear and see,' Jesus replied. Speak the truth to John of what I am doing in the Father's Name and by His power. Go and tell John all these things with unvarnished words so he might hear the truth. Jesus does not twist words to his purpose. He speaks the only truth there is. He tells John, by His words and deeds, that the Father's will is at work.
'And blessed is he who takes no offense at me.' Those who long for the truth will not be offended by it. Those who wish to hide the truth so they may do evil things are always offended. Herod and Herodias were offended by John because he spoke the truth.
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father save through Him. He is the truth of all things, and in this Truth, there is eternal life.