Next week is Holy Week - the week leading up to Easter. We are going to spend time every day thinking about the events of the week that changed the world forever. Today, we are going to remember the part that John the Baptist had to play, as an example for us to follow...
John the Baptist came to Israel, fulfilling the words of one of the ancient prophets - Isaiah 40:3: He is a voice shouting in the wilderness: 'Prepare a pathway for the Lord's coming! Make a straight road for him!' John himself confusesd people, as we find in John 1:19-23. People wanted to know if he was the Messiah, Elijah, or the Prophet. People found God through him, and repented, and sought to change their lives. And when Jesus started his ministry, people started to follow Jesus instead, as John's disciples noticed: Teacher, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you said was the Messiah, is also baptising people. And everybody is going over there instead of coming here to us. (John 3:26)
But John knew who he was in God - who he was supposed to be and what he was supposed to do - and he was secure in his Lord. Taking John as our example today, let us read and dwell upon his response to his confused followers, found in John 3:27-36:
God in heaven appoints each person's work. You yourselves know how plainly I told you that I am not the Messiah. I am here to prepare the way for him - that is all. The bride will go where the bridegroom is. A bridegroom's friend rejoices with him. I am the bridegroom's friend, and I am filled with joy at his success. He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. I am of the earth, and my understanding is limited to the things of earth, but he has come from heaven. He tells what he has seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them! Those who believe him discover that God is true. For he is sent by God. He speaks God's words, for God's Spirit is upon him without measure or limit. The Father loves his Son, and he has given him authority over everything. And all who believe in God's Son have eternal life. Those who don't obey the Son will never experience eternal life, but the wrath of God remains upon them.
There is so much that we can take from this passage to help us as we seek to love one another. We can use it as a basis of our prayers today - however you feel most led. Here are some starting ideas...
- Thank God in heaven that He has appointed your work today...
- Ask God to help you as you seek to prepare the way for Jesus in the lives of those you love...
- Offer your life to the Lord that he would must become greater as you become less...
- Thank God that our loved ones believe in Jesus they will discover that God is true...
- Ask God for His Spirit to fill you without measure or limit...
- Rejoice that God gave the Son authority over everything - and Jesus passed this authority on to us...
- Intercede for your loved ones who don't know God, and ask for His grace and mercy to be upon them so that they may experience eternal life...
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