The Word This Week
John 1:29…
Jesus now presents Himself to begin His earthly ministry. He returns to John the Baptist to allow John to affirm His place and His calling. Jesus is presented to the religious establishment and also to those who had been drawn to John the Baptist by the dynamism of God’s Holy Spirit for a baptism of repentance.
Of course, the religious leaders denied their need for a baptism of repentance, but that did not dissuade John the Baptist from the purpose of his calling he understood from God. John had been sent by God to identify His only begotten Son.
And here He is in the flesh. God in flesh.
As difficult as that may be to believe, it is so. God has come to identify with His people. To be a part of all they are. To experience life on this fallen earth in a human body. To rescue His people from their fallen nature. To be a perfect example to all those who will choose to follow His perfection. To be a perfect example to all those who understand they themselves are not perfect – which is meant to be an obvious admission, especially so in the light of Jesus’ perfection.
This would be the stumbling stone to those who would choose to reject Jesus rather than to follow Him. If you consider yourself worthy to enter heaven based on your own merit in comparison to other men, you think you have no need for a Savior. By contrast, if you consider yourself unworthy of heaven in comparison to Christ and even His Word, then you do recognize your need for a Savior. It is that simple, and God means it to be. The last thing God desires is for entry into eternal life in heaven to confusing or to be considered unattainable by anyone and even everyone. Only those who refuse to believe in God the Son’s sacrifice as effective for salvation will not be saved – and Jesus’ literal presence in the flesh proves this is so.
John the Baptist reminds everyone of all that had taken place at Jesus’ baptism. In that moment, the exact traits God had given that Messiah would be identified and recognized took place. The Holy Spirit descended and rested upon Jesus’ head, and then John knew. He, like everyone else, had not known before that moment. It was in that moment John knew, and he knew his calling was to inform everyone, including the religious leaders who would reject Jesus. Their long-promised Messiah – the very Son of God was now present in their midst.
What would they/you do with that information?
Pastor Bill
Jesus now presents Himself to begin His earthly ministry. He returns to John the Baptist to allow John to affirm His place and His calling. Jesus is presented to the religious establishment and also to those who had been drawn to John the Baptist by the dynamism of God’s Holy Spirit for a baptism of repentance.
Of course, the religious leaders denied their need for a baptism of repentance, but that did not dissuade John the Baptist from the purpose of his calling he understood from God. John had been sent by God to identify His only begotten Son.
And here He is in the flesh. God in flesh.
As difficult as that may be to believe, it is so. God has come to identify with His people. To be a part of all they are. To experience life on this fallen earth in a human body. To rescue His people from their fallen nature. To be a perfect example to all those who will choose to follow His perfection. To be a perfect example to all those who understand they themselves are not perfect – which is meant to be an obvious admission, especially so in the light of Jesus’ perfection.
This would be the stumbling stone to those who would choose to reject Jesus rather than to follow Him. If you consider yourself worthy to enter heaven based on your own merit in comparison to other men, you think you have no need for a Savior. By contrast, if you consider yourself unworthy of heaven in comparison to Christ and even His Word, then you do recognize your need for a Savior. It is that simple, and God means it to be. The last thing God desires is for entry into eternal life in heaven to confusing or to be considered unattainable by anyone and even everyone. Only those who refuse to believe in God the Son’s sacrifice as effective for salvation will not be saved – and Jesus’ literal presence in the flesh proves this is so.
John the Baptist reminds everyone of all that had taken place at Jesus’ baptism. In that moment, the exact traits God had given that Messiah would be identified and recognized took place. The Holy Spirit descended and rested upon Jesus’ head, and then John knew. He, like everyone else, had not known before that moment. It was in that moment John knew, and he knew his calling was to inform everyone, including the religious leaders who would reject Jesus. Their long-promised Messiah – the very Son of God was now present in their midst.
What would they/you do with that information?
Pastor Bill