THE HUMILITY & OBEDIENCE: GOD’S FORERUNNER, JOHN THE BAPTIST & HIS RUNNER, JESUS!
The Apostle John lays out the following biographical truths about John the Baptist:
Verse 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
Verse 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through Jesus might believe. Verse 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
What does it mean to bear witness? In the Greek, these words translate: “to give evidence”.
The Baptizer declares himself the “voice of one crying in the wilderness.” What was his cry? “Make straight the way of the Lord.” (Verse 23)
What if his cry became our cry! What would that require?
Our words and life would have to become the “evidence” that our world needs to hear.
How do we get there from where we are?
The humility in the first half of this chapter features John the Baptist saying that: “the one who comes after me is preferred (or anointed) before me”. John was content to be the forerunner. He lived to do what he was called to do. He was okay that the One that came after him was preferred before him! He knew that the day would come when he, the Forerunner, would decrease and Jesus, the Runner, could increase. And he was alright with that!
John the Baptist acknowledged quickly: “I am not the Christ.” In verse 20, we see the humility and clarity of this man. We often think he is just a wild man in the wilderness. In doing so we miss the supernatural character and calling of the forerunner of Jesus. To some extent we are all just forerunners. We are servants of God. We must be alright with that just as John was.
We must learn from John the Baptist. What must we face?
Apostle John profoundly declared that Jesus was in the world, and the world was made through him and the world did not know Him. (verse10) Think about this: Ignorance and arrogance had blinded their world and it blinds us and our world as well. But when Jesus changes our lives, we become effective forerunners by bearing evidence that Jesus has changed our lives. We are the living evidence. We carry Him in us. His presence dwells in us, ready to teach us and lead us and yes, again, to father us! Humility leads the way
Those who know who they are & who they are not, find humility to be their strength.
Of such a servant were both Johns. They had different callings. Out of their obedience they became the evidence in a dark world. With our life we make straight the way! By our evidence we prepare the way for others.
When we walk in humility, He empowers us to be the evidence as He intended.
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