Dear Student of the Word,
It's time for round two of our study from John. This week we look at John the Baptist's role in declaring that Jesus was the focus for John's coming and the One sent from heaven. I admire greatly John's demeanor throughout the process, for John knew that he had not come to launch his own movement, but to announce God's plan in Christ. This has implications for you and me today, and I wrote this on day three of this week's installment:
He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus (Acts 19:2-4 KJV).
Yet John did not come (and God did not send him) to lead a movement unless that movement was away from him and toward Jesus. I am so impressed with John and his lack of ego in the ministry. He knew who he was and wasn’t and was only too glad to point out to his disciples, as he did in this verse, that Jesus was the Man, the Son of God! The goal for each of us in ministry is to point our followers to Him and not make ourselves the center of attention. It’s not about me, it’s not about you, it’s about Him – and John understood this more clearly than anyone. That is why Jesus referred to him as the greatest prophet of the Old Testament era.
v. 36 – John repeated the description he had used earlier, that Jesus was the Lamb of God. There is no way that his disciples or any Jew could understand the significance of that title, not like we can. The Jews did not yet understand the role and purpose Jesus had in the remission of sins. I think every prophet speaks beyond his (or her) ability to understand what they are saying at that time. Oh, they understand some of it, I’m sure, but not all of it until God brings the full interpretation.
v. 37 – When John’s disciples heard this, they left John to follow Jesus, which is exactly what John wanted to happen. John must have been so pleased when this took place, although later John himself would question Jesus as to whether or not he was “the One.” Jesus was so far removed from what Jews expected of their Messiah that even John had to double check, in spite of his revelation and understanding.
It’s always a good thing to speak what you know but to go back to God to make sure you understand what it is that you are saying. John was a great man and the perfect one to announce and introduce Jesus. Yet so was Peter, Paul, John the writer, Matthew and Luke. God uses who you are to produce His will and purpose in your life. Often, however, I have found people trying to change things about themselves that God doesn’t want to change! They are convinced that, before God can “use” them, they must make a major overhaul.
Is that your attitude? If so, I have good news: God can use you as you are right now! That doesn’t mean He won’t make some changes along the way, but you are ready now for the assignment you have today. What are you waiting for? What is holding you back? Just be ready to point people to Him and you will do fine, no matter what your calling or where you are called to serve.
As always, I welcome your comments to this week's study. You can write them or find the studies to Corinthians, Colossians, First Timothy, and Matthew's and Mark's gospels on the site where this week's entry is posted. You can also go there to sign up to receive each week's study.
Plus my website archives contains a complete collection of all my verse-by-verse Bible studies from Matthew, Mark, Luke, Acts, Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1&2 Thessalonians, 1&2 Timothy, Hebrews, James, 1&2 Peter, Hebrews and Revelation, along with the unpublished Faith Files.
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THE SOPHIA FUND: I launched what I am calling The Sophia Fund on January 1. You can read my rationale for doing so here,
but it is a charitable fund named after my mother that will help feed
widows and orphans in Kenya and Zimbabwe. We have already raised $700
and I am asking you to contribute at least $5 toward the fund and
hopefully more. You can use the "Chipin" widget on the Bible study site
to contribute, or go directly to my website to contribute there
through PayPal, or send a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box
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