Tag: John the Baptist

Posted on

Fear or Courageous?  

Mark 6 In Proverbs we read: the fear of man is a snare but whoever trusts in the Lord will be set on high. [Prov 29:25] In this chapter we meet two men, one who is fearful of all men and one who is not. One has fallen into the snare or trap of the evil one and one is set free from fear and thus courageously steps into the lion’s arena to speak truth even in the face of death.  

King Herod is fearful of all people and when he met John the Baptist who boldly told him ‘It is not lawful to you to have your brother’s wife.’ [Mark 6:18] he was exceedingly fearful. You see, his wife (now Queen) Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him, yet Herod knew in his heart that John was a righteous and holy man.  

You can know the truth but until you act on it, it is just words. Herod heard the truth yet was more fearful of man or his wife than of God.  On the other side was John who feared God more than men.  

How about you? Where do you stand in the face of fear?  

Posted on

Transformed

Matt 11: The populace wondered who John was. They wonder who “this” Jesus is. Over and over the question surfaces, who is this man? Who was John speaking from the wilderness? Yet, we know that John knew who Jesus as for the heavens opened and he saw the dove descending upon Jesus and heard God speak: This is my beloved son, listen to him. 

So why did John, in prison, send two disciples to ask Jesus are you the one to come or should we look for another. Graciously Jesus asked them to look at the evidence. Times have changed but the questions remain the same: is He the Christ. 

Jesus in His gracious way says look at the evidence. The blind see; the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, He asks the people and the two disciples of John to look at the evidence. That is what we must do as well, ask people to see the evidence. What has happened in our lives? Is it clear to others of His saving grace? Is this verse true in our lives as others look at the evidence: Are we being transformed? [2Cor 3:18; Rom 12:2] 

Posted on

The Witnesses

John 1:15-51, Matt 4, Luke 4-5 John the Baptist has been called by God to be the voice of the Messiah who is now in their midst. He answered their questions: I am not the Christ, I am not Elijah, I am not the prophesied Prophet, BUT I am the voice in the wilderness. I am preparing the way of the Lord by baptizing you to meet the Lamb of God. He is now in your midst, but you do not recognize Him, and I am unworthy to untie his sandal straps.

How do I know it is He? John replies, “I was witness to the Spirit descending upon him from heaven and it rested upon him. “ That was the sign that God gave me. This is he of whom the prophets spoke.

How often do we face questions about the Messiah? We can echo John and tell the world that He is the one of whom God prophesied and one who has the Spirit of God upon Him.

But what about us? We have not witnessed John, nor have we been baptized by him. We have, however, met the Messiah somewhere along our life’s path, and we have been the recipients of the Spirit of God upon us. Have you met Him?

Posted on

Go and Tell

John asks, Jesus answers

Matthew 11: What are we to go and tell?

As John sits in prison, he may be set apart from the goings-on, but he is not unaware of what is happening beyond those prison walls. He still has connections with his advisors/disciples, and in their discussions, he sends them to Jesus to ask: “Are you for real?” Jesus lovingly answers the questioners with this statement: “go and tell.” At the end of Matthew, Jesus will again use those words: “go and tell.” So what are we to go and tell?

It is this; it is Messiah who can give spiritual insight. He alone can heal the lame both spiritually and physically. He alone can heal the outcasts of society so they can worship freely and openly. He alone can open the ears of the deaf and the eyes of the blind so that they can take in the wonderful words of life. He alone can raise to new life those who were spiritually dead and give them new life. He alone can fill the coffers of the poor with spiritual riches that are incomparable in this world. 

This is the same message we have before us to “go and tell.” And, lastly, Jesus told them to say to John; those who are not offended by all of this are blessed indeed. Are you “going and telling?”

Posted on

Be a Blessing Today

Matt 11 you were J+2As John the Baptist sat languishing in the Roman prison after he encountered and chastised Herod, Jesus took time to assure him and his followers that He was indeed “the One”, the Messiah, the Christ. Jesus said look and listen and see the evidence that I am the Christ as he recounts one miracle after another.

It is time for us as well to look and see what Christ has done when the gospel message full of grace and mercy is preached and received. Truly the blind see—that is the spiritually blind are given spiritual insight; the lame walk—those who are weak are given strength; the lepers are cleansed—those who are spiritually dead in their transgressions and sins are made alive; the deaf hear—ears are opened to hear the truth of the gospel message; the dead are raised—the spiritually dead are given new life; the poor have the good news proclaimed—and this is the message of the gospel as it goes forth. And that is why Jesus inserts this beautiful beatitude in vs 6 “blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me!”

From that point on Jesus reflects on John’s preparation for Him. This is a lesson for us that we too should bless those who have prepared the way for us. Who in our past prepared the way for us to receive Jesus? Stop and ponder. Then offer words of praise for those who were instruments of God to bring you to salvation.

Who brought you to Jesus? Bless them today for their work of faith.

Optimized by Optimole