John the Baptist teaches us the proper response when Jesus comes into our lives. Though multitudes flocked to hear him preach and though many repented and were baptized after hearing his message, John constantly proclaimed: \u201cI am not the Messiah. The Greatest is coming!\u201d<\/p>\n
It is one thing to realize Jesus is supreme, it is another thing to step aside and let Him rule. John\u2019s followers reported: \u201cThe One you baptized is now baptizing more people than you are.\u201d Does this bring disappointment\u2026 or jealousy\u2026 or bitterness? John responded beautifully: \u201cFrom now on, He must increase and I must decrease.\u201d (see John 3:22-30)<\/p>\n
When we conclude that \u201cJesus is everything,\u201d we must then trust that the Author and Perfecter of our faith knows what He is doing. After being arrested by King Herod, John sent his followers on a fact-finding mission. \u201cGo ask Jesus if He is really the One or should we expect someone else. I\u2019m sitting in a jail and this doesn\u2019t seem to fit with the coming of a King.\u201d Questions, confusion, doubt\u2026 those who decrease and let Christ increase are not exempt from such challenges.<\/p>\n
Though He taught about carrying a cross and being misunderstood and losing reputation, it would seem the Lord of lords would arrange a smoother journey for His followers. Jesus answered his older cousin: \u201cThe kingdom is advancing. The sick are being healed, the blind can see, captives are being set free, good news is being proclaimed to the poor\u2026 don\u2019t fall away because of Me.\u201d (see Luke 7:18-23) Jesus wants us to trust\u2026 even when things don\u2019t make sense. \u201cHang on child. Trust in Me. Everything will be perfect in the very end, but the narrow path you are walking is not easy.\u201d<\/p>\n
We\u2019re not told of John\u2019s response, but I think he was encouraged. \u201cOK\u2026 I\u2019m not crazy; Jesus is the One. All I really need is You, God. Thank you for Your answer and for Your peace and for Your advancing kingdom. Your will be done\u2026 now and forevermore.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.\u201d Luke 7:28<\/p>\n
\u201cDo not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.\u201d Isaiah 43:1-2<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
John the Baptist teaches us the proper response when Jesus comes into our lives. Though multitudes flocked to hear him preach and though many repented and were baptized after hearing his message, John constantly proclaimed: \u201cI am not the Messiah. The Greatest is coming!\u201d It is one thing to realize Jesus is supreme, it is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2997","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-jesus"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/airwoof.org\/journey\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2997","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/airwoof.org\/journey\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/airwoof.org\/journey\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/airwoof.org\/journey\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/airwoof.org\/journey\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2997"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/airwoof.org\/journey\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2997\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3001,"href":"https:\/\/airwoof.org\/journey\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2997\/revisions\/3001"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/airwoof.org\/journey\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2997"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/airwoof.org\/journey\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2997"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/airwoof.org\/journey\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2997"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}