My Cousin John's Testimony Concerning Me

Meditations based on readings from

The Story of My Life As Told by Jesus Christ

August 5, 2019

My Cousin John's Testimony Concerning Me

Page 49

John 1:15, 19-34

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? The Christian community today is called by God to live in anticipation of Jesus returning in final victory, just as much as Israel looked to the first coming of the Messiah. When you think about the issues of war, violence, oppression, recessions and depressions, do you look to the politicians to solve our problems, or do you long for the coming again of Jesus in final victory?

Two times John said he did not know Jesus was the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. In the light of the Mary and Elizabeth’s exhortations about their babies (Luke 1), doesn’t it seem strange that John did not know Jesus was the one for whom he was preparing the way?

Fred Craddock, former professor of New Testament and Preaching at Candler School of Theology, was one of the best preachers I ever heard. Countless thousands of lives have been blessed through his ministry. In his autobiography, Reflections on My Call to Preach: Connecting the Dots, (Chalice Press May 2009) he recalls a conversation with his mother when he had completed high school. He told his mother he sensed God calling him to be a preacher. His mother replied, “I know.” She then told Fred, who had been born into the rural poverty of the Great Depression in Tennessee, that when he was a baby, he had diphtheria and wasn’t expected to live. When Fred was at his weakest, his mother prayed like Hannah (1 Samuel 1:11); she promised God if He would allow Fred to live she would give Fred to Him. Fred was astonished; this was the first time he had heard this story. “Why didn’t you tell me this before now” he asked his mother. “Because it had to be your decision” she replied.

“But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart” is how Mary responded to the visit of the Shepherds (Luke 2:19 NRSV). Could it be that Mary and Elizabeth did not tell Jesus and John about the circumstances of their birth and allowed the Holy Spirit the freedom to work, unassisted, in their lives?

My Takeaway: I see a bit of a conundrum here. I know I am called to be a proactive witness for the cause of Christ. But are there places where I could be more patient and allow the Holy Spirit to work?

“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (Philippians 2:13).

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.

Copyright © 2019 by Alex M. Knight

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.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.