The Testimony of John the Baptist

June 21, 2016

The Testimony of John the Baptist

“I am a voice shouting in the wilderness,

‘Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’”

John 1:23 (Isaiah 40:3)

In Biblical times, the nation of Israel lived in anticipation of God doing something mighty to save His people. When the religious leaders heard about a strange man preaching in the wilderness, they were anxious to learn more about him. Was he just another messianic pretender, was he a new prophet of God, was he a former prophet sent back by God? John made it clear to the religious leaders that he had been called by God to announce the arrival of God’s Messiah.

In his encounter with the religious leaders, John the Baptist quotes Isaiah 40. It will be worth your time to take a few minutes to read that chapter. When you do you will discover a treasure trove because, “The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8).

John models for all of us the importance of living our lives within the role God has designated for us, or as Paul put it, “For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Cor. 4:5). Note that the opposite inference is just as important. While I should not think more highly of myself than I ought to, neither shall I think I am insignificant in God’s grand plan of redemption. Therefore, “O Zion, messenger of good news, shout from the mountaintops! Shout it louder, O Jerusalem. Shout, and do not be afraid. Tell the towns of Judah, “Your God is coming!”” (Isaiah 40:9).

And when you shout, remember,

“He gives power to the weak

    and strength to the powerless.

 Even youths will become weak and tired,

    and young men will fall in exhaustion.

 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.

    They will soar high on wings like eagles.

They will run and not grow weary.

    They will walk and not faint.”

                                                            Isaiah 40:29-31

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

·        Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

·        The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

·        Meditations on The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.