Heroes and Villains: John the Baptizer

John the Baptizer

Sunday I experienced the mercy and grace of God in a very real and powerful way.

In case I haven’t mentioned it or talked to you for more than 30 seconds, I lift weights. Each week for the past couple months I’ve been increasing my max on squat and deadlift. Pretty proud of myself to be honest. Sunday I was building up to where I needed to go. The ever elusive 350 lbs squat. I was feeling a little weaker and hadn’t been eating great, but what does that have to do with anything right? Apparently a lot.

I got 320 up with a bit of a struggle. I thought 335 would be fine. I’ve done that a bunch of times. But this time was different. I went down, got parallel, and on my way up I started leaning forward. Well, leaning forward is a very bad thing when squatting. My butt came up. My head and the weight did not. I head a crash and saw lights flashing all around me. I legit thought I died. I took a knee and thanked God that I had lived.

Turn in your Bible to John 1:19-29

John 1:19–29 NLT

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 the 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. The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Matthew 3:13–17 NLT

Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?” But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him. After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

John laid the groundwork for Jesus. Jesus even said he was the greatest of the prophets, Jesus then went on to say that John was still the least in the Kingdom. John knew this too.

John 3:26–30 NLT

So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us.” John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’ It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the bridegroom’s friend is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success. He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.

John knew he had to become less so Jesus could become more. He had to make a space, then empty that space for Jesus to fill it. He used what he had for Jesus

So where do you need to become less? Where have you become more popular than Jesus in peoples eyes? Where are you more important than God in your own eyes?