Twelve Days of Christmas at Ararat - Day 8: The witness always points to Christ.

"He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.“

‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

After Jesus had been baptized by John, and had begun His public ministry, 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 sins of the world.

We see that Jesus spoke highly of John, acknowledging that John had, indeed, 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 in calling people to repentance and pointing them to the King of kings. Anyone who does not point their followers to Christ, and His rule, is not a witness of Christ, but of their own self.

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!

#12daysatararat