Pam Padgett ... teacher
While reading in the book of John, it stood out to me how John the
Baptist spoke what God had revealed to him and didn't seek to
gain reputation and glory for himself.
When priests and Levites were sent to ask him about himself and what he
was doing, he told them he was sent to prepare the way of the Lord as
Elias had spoken ( Isaiah 40:3 The
voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the
Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. ) . He also told that one would come after him whose shoe latchet he wasn't worthy to unloose ...
John 1:19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent
priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? 20 And he
confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. 21 And
they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art
thou that prophet? And he answered, No. 22 Then said they unto him, Who
art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest
thou of thyself? 23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.
24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. 25 And they asked
him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that
Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? 26 John answered
them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you,
whom ye know not; 27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before
me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. 28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
When, according to what he had been told beforehand, he recognized that
Jesus is the Christ, he faithfully reported what he had been told and
what he saw, announcing that Jesus is the Lamb of God which takes away
the sin of the world, that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Ghost, and
that Jesus is the Son of God ...
John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him,
and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the
world. 30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel,
therefore am I come baptizing with water. 32 And John bare record,
saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it
abode upon him. 33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize
with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit
descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with
the Holy Ghost. 34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
Although John baptized, when he was told that Jesus baptized and that all men were coming to Him (we see in John 4:1-2 that Jesus Himself didn't baptize but His disciples), John was not jealous or resentful but joyful like a friend of a bridegroom ...
John 3:26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he
that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold,
the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. 27 John answered and said, A
man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. 28 Ye
yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I
am sent before him. 29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but
the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth
greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is
fulfilled.
John was willing to decrease in status, and told them that Jesus is above all ...
John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 He that cometh from above
is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the
earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
And John taught them about Jesus, that the testimony Jesus gave is of
God, that the Father loves Jesus, and that those who believe in Jesus
have everlasting life ...
John 3:32 And what he hath seen
and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. 33
He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is
true. 34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God
giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. 35 The Father loveth the Son,
and hath given all things into his hand. 36 He that believeth on the
Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not
see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
John the Baptist didn't seek his own glory, but faithfully spoke those
things he had been told by God and had seen, teaching about Jesus, and
rejoicing in Jesus. I was reminded of what Jesus said in the following
...
John 7:18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but
he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no
unrighteousness is in him.