My, Devotion to Him #168
Verse Passage: John 1:9 “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” – NIV
Have you ever been mistaken for someone else? Or has someone came up to you and said that you look exactly like a certain person? Or have you ever been a representative/spokesperson for someone on their behalf due to their absence or for whatever reason? If so, then you may actually have some insight into John The Baptist without even knowing it. Now it’s been a while since we have talked about John. We’ve covered his life and the messages within with several devotionals.
John’s singular ministry was to testify of Jesus the coming Messiah and to prepare the way. His witness had authority; which is why many people who were sincere had mistaken him for the Messiah. Christ was the true light, He was the only light. But that doesn’t make John a false light. In a sense John was still a light. He was not The Light but he was a light.
We need to remember that, but we don’t need to go beyond that to the point that we revere John in a inappropriate way that would place our eyes on John and not Jesus. Because again, John’s Ministry was to PREPARE the WAY for Christ.
In Acts 19:1-7 we can see that Paul came to Ephesus and found some disciples. He asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit when they believed (converted) they responded that they didn’t know there was a Holy Spirit and Paul in turn asked them what baptism did they receive. They told him Johns. Which from here they were talking about the water baptism. But there is a second baptism, the baptism of the Holy Spirit. So Paul goes on to tell them this and that they should not put their belief in John, but in Jesus as Johns baptism was merely for repentance. When they heard this they were baptized in the name of Jesus and Paul laid hands on them. The Holy Spirit came on them and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
Now we can see that these disciples had mistakenly followed the light that John was shinning. Even though his heart and ministry followed Jesus Christ.
John the Baptist came to bear witness and prepare the way. John was calling the attention of people, not for his own benefit, but to be the one who says “look here is the Messiah.”, “here is the light I was talking about.”, “here is the One we have been waiting for.” I’m reminded of John the Baptist on the Fourth of July. It’s just about my favorite holiday. I just love watching the fireworks and putting on a show for the family.
Now the whole city doesn’t wait for each person to pop theirs separately. Everyone just starts shooting them off. You have to constantly look around because fireworks are going off in every direction. I would tell my wife “look over here”, “look over there”, “look over here” and are heads would be going back and forth.
What John was doing was basically telling the people “Look, there have been many Godly people, leaders, prophets serving God. A lot of people have taught us, our parents, grandparents, ancestors a lot of things. There have been many lights in this world. But the grand finale is about to arrive. He is unlike anything we’ve known. He’s unlike anything we’ve learned about. He’s unlike anything this world has seen. I will tell you when He arrives.”
When the city does their grand finale I don’t shoot any fireworks. I just stop and watch at the great show.
We are all lights to this world. But we are representatives of Christ. We need to be careful and not have some mistaken us for something we aren’t. Be like John and bear witness. Tell those around you “if you want to see Jesus. I can show you how.”
God bless!
Copyright © 2018 by Jacob D. Olinger
Spirit Warrior Ministry 