Apicontent

[John said], “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not recognize, who is coming after me. I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandal!” —John 1:26–27

Humility is certainly an endearing and disarming character trait, is it not? True humility such as John the Baptist demonstrates in our verses for today attracts attention and points people to Jesus. Standing in familiar territory on the side of the Jordan, among throngs of people who flocked to him, John demonstrates to us what it means to become less while Jesus becomes more. His actions provide for us a wonderful example of “dying to self.” Not easy to do then, certainly not easy to do now, yet that is what Jesus calls each one of us to do:

“Then he [Jesus] said to them all, ‘If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will save it. For what does it benefit a person if he gains the whole world but loses or forfeits himself?’” —Luke 9:23–25

Jesus’ words are worth contemplating. This same command appears in all four gospels (and repetition in Scripture is always an indication that we need to pay attention).

Have you ever noticed how a braggart will often tone down his boasting when in the presence of the truly humble? Boasting exhibits the insecurity in our lives while true humility demonstrates our security and standing in Christ. We are told in Scripture that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble:

“In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” —1 Peter 5:5

Indeed, God sets himself against the arrogant yet grants favor and acceptance to the humble of heart. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians:

“For who concedes you any superiority? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as though you did not?” —1 Corinthians 4:7

We must be particularly on guard if bestowed with strength or power or possessions or authority, lest our hearts become lifted up to our own destruction, remembering always that pride is an insidious monster often grabbing hold of us unaware with its long tentacles and strangling the very life out from us. We find in Isaiah:

“My hand made them; that is how they came to be,” says the Lord. “I show special favor to the humble and contrite, who respect what I have to say.” —Isaiah 66:2

Become More

“A primary qualification for serving God with any amount of success, and for doing God’s work well and triumphantly, is a sense of our own weakness. When God’s warrior marches forth to battle, strong in his own might, when he boasts, ‘I know that I shall conquer, my own right arm and my conquering sword shall get unto me the victory,’ defeat is not far distant. God will not go forth with that man who marches in his own strength. He who reckoneth on victory thus has reckoned wrongly, for ‘it is not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.’ They who go forth to fight, boasting of their prowess, shall return with their gay banners trailed in the dust, and their armour stained with disgrace. Those who serve God must serve Him in His own way, and in His strength, or He will never accept their service. That which man doth, unaided by divine strength, God can never own.” —C. H. Spurgeon

Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a spirit of humility.

Further Reflections

“Whatever knowledge or skill we may obtain in the schools of human learning, the Scripture does not yet allow us to be truly wise, but calls us blind and mere worldly students, till we learn to be poor in spirit, lowly in heart, and dead to the world. Therefore, the more a man dies to this world, the more is he enlightened.” —K. H. Von Bogatzky

“I have never met a person I could despair of, or lose all hope for, after discerning what lies in me apart from the grace of God.” —Oswald Chambers

“Then they said to him, ‘Who are you? Tell us so that we can give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?’ John said, ‘I am the voice of one shouting in the wilderness, “Make straight the way for the Lord,” as the prophet Isaiah said.’” —John 1:22–23

Quoting from Isaiah, John the Baptist gives his job description to the questioning Jewish leaders of his day who demanded an explanation about himself.

These leaders were basically sent to get to the bottom of John’s actions. Isaiah tells us this about him:

“A voice cries out, ‘In the wilderness clear a way for the Lord; build a level road through the rift valley for our God.’” —Isaiah 40:3

The word translated “voice” in verse 23 of our verses for today is from the Greek word phone meaning a sound or tone made or given forth; a thunderous trumpet cry of a man used here in delivering God’s message. Of this word Plutarch said, “That which brings light upon that which is thought of in the mind.”

John the Baptist was sent to bring light to that which was on God’s mind and heart—a clarion call drawing the people back to Him. Malachi 3:1 also prophesizes a messenger to be sent by God to prepare the way. Jesus quoted this verse in Matthew and said it was being fulfilled in John the Baptist:

“This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’” —Matthew 11:10

True prophets were “voices” sent to bring messages from God—messages meant to call the people back to Him. God’s great desire is to get us out of wandering in the desert and bring us into the fullness of a right relationship with Him. There is consistent dryness that accompanies a broken relationship with the Father.

God gets our attention to draw us to Him. The greatest demonstration of love toward man was about to be accomplished and God wanted His people ready: “Prepare the way!” “Make straight the way!” Are we not to be about the same in anticipation of His return? Are we not to watch our life and doctrine closely; turning to God for cleansing; listening to His persistent love call; being as prepared for His return as His desire for His people to be prepared for His first advent? This is not a trite matter, rather a hugely important one. Jesus warns us in Matthew:

“Therefore stay alert, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have been alert and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” —Matthew 24:42–44

Become More

We want to be faithful and wise servants that are ready on His return! It matters greatly how we live our lives, both for our benefit now and for His ultimate return.

“Let this be a warning to me, O Lord. Set thou a guard before my eyes, ears, and other faculties, lest the world again should enter through these avenues of the heart: if the spark be not speedily extinguished, it will soon break out into a flame: thus sin is of a progressive nature, and its venom spreads very quickly and very wide, unless it be stopped and opposed in time. Watch, therefore, over this unsteady heart of mine, O thou Keeper of Israel; that as soon as it begins to wander from thee, I may be alarmed to flee from sin as from a serpent. Give me grace to look upon every hour as my last; so that being ever wisely upon my guard I may meet thee with joy when my time is run out, whenever it shall please thee to call me hence.” —K. H. Von Bogatzky

Further Reflections

“Serious and sincere repentance routes us back into God’s will.” —Robert J. Morgan

“The voice of God is a friendly voice. No one need fear to listen to it unless he has already made up his mind to resist it.” —A.W. Tozer

“Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ 
“He confessed—he did not deny but confessed—‘I am not the Christ!’
“So they asked him, ‘Then who are you? Are you Elijah?’ He said, ‘I am not!’
“‘Are you the Prophet?’ He answered, ‘No!’” —John 1:19–21

John the Baptist’s influential ministry began to raise the eyebrows of the Jewish leadership of his day. Indeed, his message began causing such a stir that the authorities in Jerusalem sent delegates to question him, “Just who are you?” You can only imagine the prodding he received. It reminds me of the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid when they were being relentlessly pursued by a group of bounty hunters that they were unable to shake. The gang asked themselves a similar question: “Who are those guys?” These prominent Jewish leaders should have known full well from prophecy that John the Baptist was the forerunner of the Christ rather than sitting and scratching their heads in wonder.

It was so like John the Baptist to not only confess but to confess freely that he was not the Christ. The greatness of this forerunner of Jesus is found in John’s own words to his disciples when they came to him with questions regarding Jesus’ growing popularity. The crowds were beginning to follow Jesus instead of John!

“John replied, ‘No one can receive anything unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, “I am not the Christ,” but rather, “I have been sent before him.” The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. This then is my joy, and it is complete. He must become more important while I become less important. The one who comes from above is superior to all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is superior to all.’” —John 3:27–31

John the Baptist did not come upon the scene to present himself as some great leader. While his spirit, his conversation, and his doctrine of repentance commanded respect, he had no intention of elevating himself to a lofty position. Dressed in camel hair and eating locusts and wild honey, he was more interested in doing good than appearing great. How necessary that thought and action are in modern-day disciples of Jesus as well. Oftentimes it is we who find ourselves in the limelight (and unfortunately enjoying it I’m afraid) rather than our Lord. However, it is He who is to be glorified and magnified.

John the Baptist also refused the honor of being called Elijah. However, he came in both the power and spirit of Elijah. Jesus said of John in the book of Matthew:

“What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Look, those who wear soft clothing are in the palaces of kings! What did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet! This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ I tell you the truth, among those born of women, no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is! From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and forceful people lay hold of it. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John appeared. And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, who is to come. The one who has ears had better listen!” —Matthew 11:7–15

Become More

John the Baptist was a true prophet, filled with the Holy Spirit even from the womb, proclaiming God’s requirement of repentance, sent by God to be the forerunner of His Son, and an example of humble obedience to every follower of our Lord Jesus.

“He must become more important while I become less important.” —John 3:30

Keep the attention on Jesus!

Further Reflections

“Secular learning, honour, and power, seldom dispose men’s minds to the reception of divine light.” —Matthew Henry

“God’s faithful witnesses stand more on their guard against undue respect than against unjust contempt.” —Matthew Henry

“The greatness of a man’s power is the measure of his surrender.” —William Booth

“No one has ever seen God. The only one, himself God, who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God known.” —John 1:18

Jesus came to make God known to humanity. No one has ever seen God, for God has said,

“You cannot see my face, for no one can see me and live” —Exodus 33:20.

I am reminded of Moses who, while journeying here on this earth, most certainly had an intimate fellowship with God. Yet he still had a desire to see God’s glory—for God to somehow make His glory visible.

“And Moses said, ‘Show me your glory.’ And the LORD said, ‘I will make all my goodness pass before your face, and I will proclaim the LORD by name before you; I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy.’ But he added, ‘You cannot see my face, for no one can see me and live.’ The LORD said, ‘Here is a place by me; you will station yourself on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and will cover you with my hand while I pass by. Then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back, but my face must not be seen.’” —Exodus 33:18–23

God denied that which was not fit to be granted—fleshly eyes cannot bear to behold the pureness and holiness of God’s full glory. Yet, God was gracious to His servant Moses. Notice the place where God in His compassion told Moses to stand: on a rock. Notice where He mercifully puts Moses as He passes by: in the cleft of that rock. That rock signifies Christ and it is only through Christ that we have the knowledge of the glory of God.

Jesus himself said:

“All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son decides to reveal him.” —Matthew 11:27

“No that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God—he has seen the Father.” —John 6:46

Our God is so totally other. It is impossible for mere flesh to get our minds around this concept! Christ came to demonstrate for us the qualities and attributes of God—to give us a clearer view of His love and mercy and compassion.

“A full discovery of the glory of God would quite overpower the faculties of any mortal man in this present state, and overwhelm him, even Moses himself. There is a knowledge and enjoyment of God which must be waited for in another world, when we shall see Him as He is. In the meantime let us adore the height of what we do know of God, and the depth of what we do not know.” —Matthew Henry

Just as God caused His goodness to pass in front of Moses, Jesus, fully God and fully man, came to flesh out God’s goodness to man. Filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control and robed in righteousness, compassion and humility, Jesus makes God known allowing man the glimmer of the unapproachable light.

Become More

Just as Jesus was sent for our benefit, believers in Him are sent for the benefit of the lost. Equipped with the power of His Spirit, we are to be His ambassadors—sharing the good news of Jesus with a needy world. Jesus tells us:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” —Matthew 28:18–20

The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians:

“For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing—to the latter an odor from death to death, but to the former a fragrance from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?” —2 Corinthians 2:15–16

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, each one of us is up to the task of making Jesus known to others. 

“Every Christian life ought to be a force among men, a witness for Jesus and an influence for blessing and good. I know that there are few people like Billy Graham, whom God calls to do great things for Him. For men like me, and perhaps you, the best thing that we can do in the small time allotted to us in this world is to live out a genuine, simple, beautiful, strong Christian life. In our little measure we can repeat the life of the Lord himself, doing in our imperfect way a few of the wonderful things He would do if He were himself in our place.” —Wales Goebel

Further Reflections

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how unfathomable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has first given to God, that God needs to repay him? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever! Amen.” —Romans 11:33–36

“Character in a saint means the disposition of Jesus Christ persistently manifested.” —Oswald Chambers

“Every hour we make decisions on whether or not to be to others what Christ has been to us.” —Wales Goebel

“For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ.” —John 1:17

Paul tells us in Romans that the law was given to make us conscious of our sin:

“Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world may be held accountable to God.” —Romans 3:19

Sin Separates Us from God

There is no one righteous, not even one—no one who is able to follow the law perfectly. Paul tells us:

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” —Romans 3:23

Solomon also tells us:

“For there is not one truly righteous person on the earth who continually does good and never sins.” —Ecclesiastes 7:20

We not only fall short of God’s glory; we continuously fall short. As Paul tells us in Romans:

“So, I find the law that when I want to do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God in my inner being. But I see a different law in my members waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” —Romans 7:21–24

“Sin is a fundamental relationship—it is not wrong doing, but wrong being—it is deliberate and determined independence from God … The first thing Jesus Christ confronted in people was the heredity of sin, and it is because we have ignored this in our presentation of the gospel that the message of the gospel has lost its sting and its explosive power.” —Oswald Chambers

Jesus Reunites Us with God!

The solution to our sin is Jesus! Paul tells us in Romans:

“Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” —Romans 7:25

Further, Paul goes on to proclaim the following very good news:

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the life-giving Spirit in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. For God achieved what the law could not do because it was weakened through the flesh. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the righteous requirement of the law may be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” —Romans 8:1–4

As a result of our faith in and our identification with Christ Jesus, we are justified, we are declared righteous, we are now able to stand firm in His grace and not under His wrath, and we are possessors of eternal life. In our verse for today, John tells us that through Jesus, grace and truth have come to us. Surpassing the Law of Moses, though it were ever so glorious a revelation, the gospel of Jesus Christ is a much clearer and sweeter revelation filled with love, mercy, grace, and truth.

Become More

“The exhaustless riches of divine grace can never suffer any one to go away empty. It can never tell anyone that he is too poor. It can meet the very deepest human need; and not only so, but it is glorified in meeting it. This holds good in every case. It is true of every individual sinner … Grace is the grand and only resource for us all. It is the basis of our salvation; the basis of a life of practical godliness; and the basis of those imperishable hopes which animate us amid the trials and conflicts of this sin-stricken world.” —C H MacIntosh, 1860, Notes on Leviticus

Take some time to consider the ways you are currently experiencing God’s grace and truth.

Further Reflections

“In the gospel we discover that we are far more wicked than we ever dared believe, yet more loved than we ever dared hope.” —Tim Keller

“I remember two things: that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior.” —John Newton

“For we have all received from his fullness one gracious gift after another.” —John 1:16

Fullness is such a great word. It brings to mind thoughts of satisfaction, completion, entirety, and contentment. When we read the words “from his fullness” it speaks to all that is found within Jesus.

All that is within Jesus … all the blessings of joy, delight, and satisfaction; all the gifts and endowments of the Holy Spirit; all the favor of God toward us as sinners because of Christ. All this we receive. Just as one wave gets to the seashore and another follows suit, then another and another, in like manner, we receive never-ending waves of God’s unmerited favor. His love, giving, joy, and satisfaction contrasts with human love, giving, joy, and satisfaction in both nature and degree—while human light appears as a flicker, God’s light shines forth as the brightness of the sun. 

Throughout the Bible we find verses that speak to God’s fullness and His desire to fill us:

“Hey, all who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come! Buy and eat! Come! Buy wine and milk without money and without cost! Why pay money for something that will not nourish you? Why spend your hard-earned money on something that will not satisfy? Listen carefully to me and eat what is nourishing! Enjoy fine food!” —Isaiah 55:1–2

“On the last day of the feast, the greatest day, Jesus stood up and shouted out, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. Just as the scripture says, “From within him will flow rivers of living water.”’” —John 7:37–38

“I am the LORD, your God, the one who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it!” —Psalm 81:10

“Since the eyes of your heart have been enlightened so that you can know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the incomparable greatness of his power toward us who believe, as displayed in the exercise of his immense strength. This power he exercised in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms far above every rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And God put all things under Christ’s feet, and gave him to the church as head over all things. Now the church is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” —Ephesians 1:18–23

Become More

“There is a fullness of blessings of every sort and shape; a fullness of grace to pardon, of grace to regenerate, of grace to sanctify, of grace to preserve, and of grace to perfect. There is a fullness at all times; a fullness of comfort in affliction; a fullness of guidance in prosperity. A fullness of every divine attribute, of wisdom, of power, of love; a fullness which it were impossible to survey, much less to explore … Oh, what a fullness must this be of which all receive! Fullness, indeed, must there be when the stream is always flowing, and yet the well springs up as free, as rich, as full as ever. Come, believer, and get all thy need supplied; ask largely, and thou shalt receive largely, for this ‘fullness’ is inexhaustible, and is treasured up where all the needy may reach it, even in Jesus, Immanuel—God with us.” —Charles H. Spurgeon

In what ways are you currently experiencing the fullness of God’s gracious gifts?

Further Reflections

“Live up to thy privileges, and rejoice with unspeakable joy.” —Charles H. Spurgeon

“Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ.” —Ephesians 1:3

“Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory—the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father.” —John 1:14

The fullness of God in bodily form is difficult for us to get our minds around. Deity coming to earth in the flesh, Jesus’ incarnation makes known the depth of God’s love and concern for mankind. Subjecting himself to all the miseries and calamities of human nature, sharing in our humanity, Jesus truly lived a human life.

Paul tells us in Colossians:

“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in the Son and through him to reconcile all things to himself by making peace through the blood of his cross—through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven.” —Colossians 1:19–20

Jesus came to dwell with humanity just as God dwelt among the Israelites in the wilderness—with His presence filling the tabernacle and leading the people with the cloud of His presence by day and the fire of His presence by night. We find in Exodus:

“I will reside among the Israelites, and I will be their God, and they will know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out from the land of Egypt, so that I may reside among them. I am the LORD their God.” —Exodus 29:45–46

“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” —Exodus 40:34–35

God is a “with us” God. From Genesis to Revelation, it has always been His desire to be among His people. He is the One who brings us out of our bondage to sin that we may dwell with Him and bring Him glory. Through the poor choice of sin, man’s fellowship was broken with the Father. Jesus came in human form yet, unlike us, lived a perfect life and became the perfect sacrifice so that through Him we may again experience the presence of our heavenly Father. Jesus’ purpose in coming was to bring us out of our bondage of sin into the glory and fullness of himself. As believers, we are clothed in Christ’s righteousness. Paul tells us:

“God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.” —2 Corinthians 5:21

The rays of divine glory glistened beneath the veiled deity of the God-man Jesus. As the sun is still the fountain of life though at times hidden by a dark mist of clouds, Christ clothed in flesh was fully God though His glory was not apparent to all. The witnesses of His glory were His disciples and followers. Those who were willing to go with Him gleaned more of Him. That is still true today. Those who seek Him diligently will be privy to more of His glory.

Become More

“For we did not follow cleverly concocted fables when we made known to you the power and return of our Lord Jesus Christ; no, we were eyewitnesses of his grandeur.” —2 Peter 1:16

The disciples lived life with Jesus—they walked along the road with Him, ate with Him, laughed with Him, ministered with Him, did life with Him. As a result, they claimed, “We saw his glory—the glory of the one and only.” Our faith is not grounded in or built on hearsay or cleverly invented stories, but on truth. Jesus lived his life and allowed his disciples to see his glory.

By the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus is still with us today!

Further Reflections

“Christ became what we are that He might make us what He is.” —Athanasius of Alexandria

“God loves you as though you are the only person in the world, and He loves everyone the way He loves you.” —Augustine

“A man came, sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that everyone might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify about the light.” —John 1:6–9

A shooting star sent forth from God to shatter the darkness of sin by shedding light in preparation for Jesus to shine, John the Baptist came as a witness to the true light. This witness was prophesized by Isaiah and subsequently applied by each gospel writer to John the Baptist—the forerunner of Christ:

“A voice cries out, “In the wilderness clear a way for the LORD; build a level road through the rift valley for our God.” —Isaiah 40:3

John the Baptist was equipped and commissioned by God for this special ministry of pointing the people from the error of their ways to the truth of Jesus. He had a specific message, addressed to specific recipients, intended to elicit a specific response. He came with a call to repentance for those wallowing in the wasteland of life, pointing them to their need for a Savior.

At his birth, John’s father Zechariah states the following regarding his son’s life’s work:

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High. For you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. Because of our God’s tender mercy the dawn will break upon us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” —Luke 1:76–79

“One of the keynotes in John’s thoughts regarding Jesus is that Jesus is the Light of the World. It means that Jesus, as the Light of the World, is the One who makes clear the Meaning and Destiny of Human Existence. Jesus was God’s expression of Himself. Jesus was God. Jesus was God’s Message to Mankind.” —Halley’s Bible Handbook

Jesus himself gives us the following information regarding John the Baptist:

“He was a lamp that was burning and shining, and you wanted to rejoice greatly for a short time in his light.” —John 5:35

Certainly, John proves to be a wonderful example of Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew regarding our light:

“You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.”—Matthew 5:14–16

Later in the book of Matthew, Jesus said:

“I tell you the truth, among those born of women, no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is! From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and forceful people lay hold of it. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John appeared. And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, who is to come. The one who has ears had better listen!” —Matthew 11:11–15

Our light is meant to shine forth giving direction and pointing others to the proper path!

What a wonderful example John the Baptist set for all in ministry—always pointing to Jesus and not to himself. Indeed, his greatness and humility shine forth clearly through his words as we discover in chapter three of John:

“No one can receive anything unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but rather, ‘I have been sent before him.’ The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. This then is my joy, and it is complete. He must become more important while I become less important.” —John 3:27–30

Become More

“Let us work as if success depended upon ourselves alone, but with heartfelt conviction that we are doing nothing, and God everything.” —St. Ignatius Loyola

God is the only One who can empower us to become more! It is Him working in and through us that will enable us to experience all that He has for us.

John the Baptist was sent to prepare for the arrival of the Messiah. John baptized with water and Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit—this was the divine order of things and one with which John was comfortable. When Jesus’ popularity began to grow and John began to shrink, John joyfully accepted God’s plan. When the King arrived, there was no further need of the herald. Every believer should have such a mindset as this. It is not about us; it is all about Jesus.

“Every Christian life ought to be a force among men, a witness for Jesus and an influence for blessing and good. I know that there are few people like Billy Graham, whom God calls to do great things for Him. For men like me, and perhaps you, the best thing that we can do in the small time allotted to us in this world is to live out a genuine, simple, beautiful, strong Christian life. In our little measure we can repeat the life of the Lord Himself, doing in our imperfect way a few of the wonderful things He would do if He were Himself in our place.” —Wales Goebel

Further Reflections

“Repentance does not cause a sense of sin—it causes a sense of inexpressible unworthiness. When I repent, I realize that I am absolutely helpless, and I know that through and through I am not worthy even to carry His sandals.” —Oswald Chambers

“John was a lamp, not the true Light. The Jewish nation for a short time was stirred by and rejoiced in his ministry. For a moment they thought the Messianic Age was dawning. Even though his preaching had some stinging rebukes, there was a great popular excitement about his message. The people thought that though Israel might be disciplined, their enemies would be destroyed.” —Bible Knowledge Commentary

“All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.” —John 1:3

Aardvarks, antelopes, alligators, and ants; bumblebees, bullfrogs, butterflies, and birds; caterpillars, chameleons, canines and cats; from the highest angel to the lowest worm. All of God’s creation was created ex nihilo–the Latin phrase for “out of nothing”—by the Word of God. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit together in this mighty work of creation, our Master Creator.

“Who comprehends the mind of the LORD, or gives him instruction as his counselor? From whom does he receive directions? Who teaches him the correct way to do things, or imparts knowledge to him, or instructs him in skillful design?” —Isaiah 40:13–14

I am reminded of God’s words to Job in response to Job’s questioning of the Almighty’s plans:

“Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind: ‘Who is this who darkens counsel with words without knowledge? Get ready for a difficult task like a man; I will question you and you will inform me! Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you possess understanding!’” —Job 38:1–4

God then asks Job a series of questions throughout the next two chapters regarding the many aspects of creation about which, of course, Job was clueless—thus making him painfully aware of his own ignorance and insignificance in the entire matter. He had not been present when the earth was founded and filled; nor had he had any participation in the creation of it—much less the understanding behind it. Why in the world did he think he was capable of advising God now? We would be wise to think this question through for ourselves when we have a desire to instruct God!

C. H. Macintosh wrote, “Here is the divine antidote against the pride and restless ambition of the men of this world. Nothing is more sad than to witness a pushing, bustling, forward, self-confident spirit and style in those who profess to be followers of than to witness a pushing, bustling, forward, self-confident spirit and style in those who profess to be followers of Him who was meek and lowly in heart. It is such a flagrant contradiction of the spirit and precepts of Christianity, and is a sure accompaniment of an unbroken condition of the soul. It is utterly impossible for any one to indulge in a boastful, pretentious, self-confident spirit, if ever he has really measured himself in the presence of God. To be much alone with God is the sovereign remedy for pride and self-complacency. May we know the reality of this in the secret of our own souls. May the good Lord keep us truly humble, in all our ways, simply leaning on Himself and his grace.” —Notes on Deuteronomy, 1869

In Colossians, the apostle Paul gives the following description of our Lord Jesus which affirms John’s words to us in our verses for today:

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, for all things in heaven and on earth were created in him—all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers—all things were created through him and for him. He himself is before all things and all things are held together in him. He is the head of the body, the church, as well as the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he himself may become first in all things. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in the Son and through him to reconcile all things to himself by making peace through the blood of his cross—through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven.” —Colossians 1:15–20

Christ came as the perfect visible representation and manifestation of God; He created all things, He is before all things, and in Him all things are held together. Christ is the Head of the body, the church, and Christ has supremacy. He came as the fullness of the Godhead in bodily form, manifesting for us what human eyes were not allowed to gaze upon and live, namely the face of God.

Become More

We must constantly be looking to Jesus in order to experience more of God in our lives, for in the words of H. A. Ironside, “No one has ever lost out by excessive devotion to Christ.”

“We shall never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our doings, or our feelings; it is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul. If we would at once overcome Satan and have peace with God, it must be by ‘looking unto Jesus’. Keep thine eye simply on Him; let His death, His sufferings, His merits, His glories, His intercession, be fresh upon thy mind; when thou wakest in the morning look to Him; when thou liest down at night look to Him. Oh! Let not thy hopes or fears come between thee and Jesus; follow hard after Him, and He will never fail thee.” —C. H. Spurgeon

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” —C.S. Lewis

How does a focus on Jesus help us to experience more of who God is in our lives?

Further Reflections

“As a blind man has no idea of colors, so have we no idea (how) the all-wise God perceives and understands all things.” —Isaac Newton

God’s thoughts and ways are far superior and above man’s—we see only as a poor reflection, yet He sees fully. God speaks this truth in the words penned by the prophet Isaiah: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8–9).

“No one can dissuade God from His purposes; nothing can turn Him aside from His plans.” —A.W. Tozer