January 12 – Chronological Life of Jesus Day 8

Top of the morning to you! I’m super excited about today! Start of a new week and all of the Gospels have been introduced!

-Dyea

Scripture

READ: Luke 3

Observation

As I was sitting at Jesus’ feet, it was put on my heart that John was going to be lifted up today, and rightfully so!!

Funny, amazing how that Holy Spirit prepares us and gives us things from weeks prior to be used in the weeks to come. Holly made the comment about John and how she noticed the Bible described him as such a wild man, wearing camel hair clothes and only eating locusts and honey.

–Well today, I read across it again–

I once heard that if even one word is mentioned more than once in the Bible (within the same chapter or even book), then it is definitely worth examining.

–Well today, I took note–

I had to stop what I was reading and listen to what I was supposed to hear about John. Oh wow! What an intricate part he played–his conception was miraculous, his name was divinely given, and the only word that comes to my mind is “humble”. Of anyone who could fall into the trap of pride – ding ding ding, but not him.

The Bible is brief and stark about John, inferring that he was somewhat reclusive and maybe he possessed demonic spirits (Mt. 11:18). I’d like to believe he just knew he was a key figure in the preparation of our Messiah’s work. At any rate, I’m extremely thankful for his obedience!

I’ve highlighted all the verses in each of the gospels to reflect on John and his humbleness time and time again. Never veering from what I took from it all, that being: preparing the Way and his continuous preaching of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. I truly feel that he had everyone’s best interest at hand….what a heart, what a man.

Luke: He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’… John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them. (Luke 3:3-4, 16-18 NIV)

Matthew: This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”… “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Matthew 3:3, 11-12 NIV)

Mark: The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way” — “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ” And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River… “I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 1:1-5, 8 NIV)

John: (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ”)… John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’” …This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ …And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ (John 1:15, 23, 30, 33 NIV)

Application

John the Baptist prepared the way! Let us be a “John”, let us be humble in the assignments we are given and not put stumbling blocks down; let us be bold for the One who has come and Who will come again. Let us live a little more reclusively, not to be lured or leered in by the all the things of this world.

Prayer

Dear merciful, gracious, and forgiving Father…I most often forget that in all of the thanks I give, I sidestep the repentance piece and allow pride to set in. Please help me be humble enough, to remember that I sin daily. I need a forgiving Savior to wash that all away. Thank You for preparing the way, thank You for being the way, my Way. Help me sin no more.

In Your precious name…Amen!