The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 1:6-8,
"There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light."
The "John" in the above verse refers to John the Baptist. Although we find the accounts of his story in our New Testaments, he is rightly considered to be the last of the Old Testament prophets. This is seen in the fact that his ministry began before the Son of God, Jesus Christ, was revealed and began his ministry of the redemption of mankind. The Old Testament gives way to the New in that John "came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light." Verse 7.
Jesus had to be revealed to John himself, who knew the Messiah was coming, but didn't know who he would be, "I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen and I testify that this is God's Chosen One." Verses 33-34.
With the proximity of Jesus arriving on the scene while John was pursuing the ministry given him, he is somewhat shadowed because of the surpassing glory of the revelation of the Son of God in Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, it is my perspective (along with many of us I'm sure) that enough cannot be said about the man and ministry of John the Baptist.
John was chosen by God to establish a sort of beachhead for Jesus' arrival. His mission seems best expressed in his own words, "the reason I came baptizing with water was that he [the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world] might be revealed to Israel." Verse 31. John himself was prophesied to appear in Israel by Isaiah (Isaiah 40:3), "A voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'". That "wilderness", in my mind, is not just a reference to the rural area of John's activities, but a reference to the great darkness Jesus entered into to bring about his atonement for mankind, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome [or, "understood", "apprehended"] it.
John was a unique individual prepared for his ministry by God himself. He actually began his career as a prophet while still in his mother's womb! When Jesus' mother, Mary, became pregnant with Jesus, she hurried to her relative, Elizabeth, who was six months pregnant with John the Baptist. As Mary entered Elizabeth's home, Elizabeth exclaimed, "As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy." Luke 1:44.
"There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light."
The "John" in the above verse refers to John the Baptist. Although we find the accounts of his story in our New Testaments, he is rightly considered to be the last of the Old Testament prophets. This is seen in the fact that his ministry began before the Son of God, Jesus Christ, was revealed and began his ministry of the redemption of mankind. The Old Testament gives way to the New in that John "came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light." Verse 7.
Jesus had to be revealed to John himself, who knew the Messiah was coming, but didn't know who he would be, "I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen and I testify that this is God's Chosen One." Verses 33-34.
With the proximity of Jesus arriving on the scene while John was pursuing the ministry given him, he is somewhat shadowed because of the surpassing glory of the revelation of the Son of God in Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, it is my perspective (along with many of us I'm sure) that enough cannot be said about the man and ministry of John the Baptist.
John was chosen by God to establish a sort of beachhead for Jesus' arrival. His mission seems best expressed in his own words, "the reason I came baptizing with water was that he [the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world] might be revealed to Israel." Verse 31. John himself was prophesied to appear in Israel by Isaiah (Isaiah 40:3), "A voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'". That "wilderness", in my mind, is not just a reference to the rural area of John's activities, but a reference to the great darkness Jesus entered into to bring about his atonement for mankind, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome [or, "understood", "apprehended"] it.
John was a unique individual prepared for his ministry by God himself. He actually began his career as a prophet while still in his mother's womb! When Jesus' mother, Mary, became pregnant with Jesus, she hurried to her relative, Elizabeth, who was six months pregnant with John the Baptist. As Mary entered Elizabeth's home, Elizabeth exclaimed, "As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy." Luke 1:44.
John the Baptist, an amazing man with an amazing calling of God! Amazing because he was called by God to prepare the way for the transcendently majestic and glorious Son of God, Jesus Christ!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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