Daily Devotion

 

 

 

Notice the proof that Jesus offered. He pointed at the facts. The sick, the suffering, and the humble poor were experiencing the power, and hearing the Good News. Here is a point which is seldom realized---this is not the answer John expected. If Jesus was God's anointed one, John would have expected him to say, "The wrath of God is on the march," but Jesus said, "The mercy of God is here." Let us remember that where pain is soothed, and sorrow turned to joy, where suffering and death are vanquished there is the kingdom of God. Jesus' answer was, "Go back, and tell John that the love of God is here."

 

After John's emissaries had gone, Jesus paid His own tribute to him. People had crowded out into the desert to see, and hear John, and they had not gone to see a reed shaken by the wind. Nothing was more common by Jordan's banks than a reed shaken by the wind. It may mean that the crowds went out to see no ordinary sight. It was no vacillating, swaying character men went out to see but a man immovable as a mighty tree.

 

First Jesus pays John a great tribute. It was expected that before God's anointed king arrived upon earth. Elijah would return to prepare the way, and act as His herald (Malachi 4:5). John was the herald of the Highest. Jesus states quite clearly the limitations of John. The least in the kingdom of heaven was greater than he. Why? It was because John marked a dividing line in history. Since John's proclamation had been made, Jesus had come; eternity had invaded time; heaven had invaded earth; God had arrived in Jesus; life could never be the same again. We date all time as before Jesus and after Jesus---B.C. and A.D. Jesus is the dividing line. If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). As Binney, the martyr said, "When I read that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, it was as if day suddenly broke on a dark night."

 

Life Application: What do you think of John the Baptist? Do you think that John wished to hurry Jesus on because he thought it was time Jesus moved towards decisive action?