"The Testimony of John the Baptist"

"This was John's testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, "Who are you?" He came right out and said, "I am not the Messiah." "Well then, who are you? they asked. "Are you Elijah?" "No," he replied. "Are you the Prophet we are expecting?" "No." "Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?" John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah: "I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, 'Clear the way for the LORD'S coming!'" Then the Pharisees who had been sent asked him, "If you aren't the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?" John told them, "I baptize with water, but right here in this crowd is someone you do not recognize. Though his ministry follows mine, I'm not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal." This encounter took place in Bethany, an area east of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing." (John 1:19-28 NLT)

    "Like a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; to such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them." (Psalms 103:13-18 KJV)

 

  Maybe it might take something really powerful to grab our attention; but if it makes any difference, dare I say, what we have been witnessing over this last year is some pretty powerful stuff! Did anyone catch the the attitude of some in the Senate this last week? I would not have believed it, if I did not hear the words for myself. Lines in the sand!  

  Speaking of, "Foot," in the portion of Scripture that we are looking at, John the Baptist has made a reference to the LORD's coming, and then, "the straps of his sandal." If I am not mistaken, this is another reference to a foot, right? Did you know that "Heal-Catcher" was a pretty good illustration of what we are as a believer in Christ? It might take a little thought to get that to grab your attention! 

  When John the Baptist came upon the scene, that was his ministry and purpose, to grab the people's attention and to prepare their hearts for the ministry of Jesus Christ. The Pharisees could see the purpose of his ministry, which is why they were so concerned about what he was doing: he was making the people aware of their sins! If you don't think that you are sick, then you don't need a doctor! 

  The way we must look at this, (if you can pretend for a moment that you have God's perspective,) is to imagine if your children were as that shown in the Psalm above; they have lost sight of the fear that they need to remember your commands, and they need someone to grab their attention. Basically, they needed to be reminded of their sin! John's task, if you might not know, was to be a judge; which is not what Jesus came to do: Jesus Christ came to save! 

  Please, with everything that is within you, do not forsake being the Church! We must come together and celebrate what Christ has done! They were able to stop this from happening last year; let's not let it happen again...

"And so dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God's house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near." (Hebrews 10:19-25 NLT)