- araratchurch
- Jan 2
- 2 min read
“He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.“
John 1:8 NKJV
Jesus had been baptized by John and had begun His public ministry. As such, he began to attract many followers who His disciples were baptizing. Having observed this, John’s remaining disciples (we know that two of John’s former disciples were Jesus’ first two disciples) were complaining to John about the crowd Jesus was drawing. This was John’s response:
“John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.“
John 3:27-31 NKJV
You see, John was sent to witness of Christ; he was not sent to draw attention to himself. Indeed, John’s job was to point people—even his former disciples—to the true Light, “the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world.”
“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.””
John 1:29-31 NKJV
Indeed, we see that Jesus spoke highly of John, acknowledging that John had faithfully born witness of Who He was.
“You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved. He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.”
John 5:33-36 NKJV
Friend, our job, our call, is to do what John did: Call people to repentance and point them to the King of kings. Anyone who does not point their followers to Christ and His rule, is not a true witness of Christ, but is seeking self-aggrandizement.
Sadly, some would say they are working for the Lord. Yet, all the while, all their “arrows” point to themselves, with an emphasis on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, sorely lacking.
Friend, as we strive to bring other people to Christ, let’s make sure that all we do in our lives, including our interactions with others, ultimately points back to He Who is above all.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Jan 2
- 2 min read
“This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.”
John 1:7 NKJV
On “Day 4” we saw that Jesus referenced Himself as “the Light.” In that same discourse, Jesus was confronted by the religious leaders who were asking by what authority He made the claims concerning Himself. Basically, they were accusing Him of being His own witness. This was Jesus’ answer:
“Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me. It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.””
John 8:14-18 NKJV
The law Jesus employed in his rebuttal, is found in Deuteronomy 17:6 and Deuteronomy 19:15, the former referencing when someone commits something worthy of death, the latter referencing any crime a person is accused of committing.
Jesus specifically references the same law, in terms of dealing with someone who has done you wrong.
“But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’“
Matthew 18:16 NKJV
Paul references this law when addressing the church at Corinth.
“This will be the third time I am coming to you. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.””
II Corinthians 13:1 NKJV
Paul is apparently not referencing that he is addressing the issue three times per se, but that his response to them is based on the accounts of the behavior (immorality, and division) continuing. Therefore the offense has been established.
In our opening scripture, we see that John was sent from God to be a witness to the Light, a witness that Jesus was the Christ.
So, we see that the Lord honors His own law. That is, in addition to the myriad witnesses of prophecies pointing to the appearance of the Messiah, the Lord also provided “a voice crying in the wilderness,” witnessing to Jesus’ Identity.
The prophecy we considered yesterday in Malachi 3, should have served as another sure sign of who John was: the witness, the messenger, as well as that Jesus was the Christ. But, as we know, not only was the witness rejected, indeed killed, so also the One he introduced was crucified.
God’s messengers often pay a great price. But whatever the price may be, it is much outweighed by the greater glory awaiting God’s faithful children.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Dec 31, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 3
“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.“
John 1:6 NKJV
Soon after Peter had declared—by the Spirit—that Jesus was, indeed, the Christ, Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on a high mountain. On that mountain, they saw Jesus transfigured before their very eyes. As well, they heard a Voice speaking from heaven, confirming that Jesus was indeed, the beloved Son of God!
The realization of Who Jesus truly was, led the disciples to ask a question concerning a messianic prophecy that they thought had not yet been fulfilled.
“And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.“
Matthew 17:10-13 NKJV
The prophecy being questioned by the disciples, was from Malachi:
“Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” Says the Lord of hosts.“
Malachi 3:1 NKJV
So, we see that Jesus confirmed that John was operating in the spirit of Elijah. That is to say, John the Baptizer was not Elijah, but operated in his anointing.
Indeed, John himself, affirmed that he was the prophesied, “voice crying in the wilderness.”
”Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” He said: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the Lord,” ’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”“
John 1:22-23 NKJV
Recently, as we celebrated the birth of Jesus, we heard the story of Mary visiting her relative, Elizabeth, who had miraculously conceived a child in her old age. And, that child became a zealous baptizer, urging people to repent, preparing the way for the ministry of Jesus.
You see, the Lord not only sent his beloved Son, but also sent the one who would prepare His way, just as had been prophesied.
Remember, everyone who will yield their lives to the purposes of God, will find that they, too, can be woven into the wonderful tapestry of God’s will.
Will you allow the Lord to use your life to complete His glorious work of art?
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!