In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 1:28-34[HCSB])

28 All this happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the One I told you about: ‘After me comes a man who has surpassed me, because He existed before me.’ 31 I didn’t know Him, but I came baptizing with water so He might be revealed to Israel.”

32 And John testified, “I watched the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He rested on Him. 33 I didn’t know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The One you see the Spirit descending and resting on He is the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and testified that He is the Son of God! ”7

He is the Son of God

John the Baptist is the first proclaimer of the Good News, which is Jesus the Christ. He came eating locusts and honey fresh out of the wilderness calling all men to repent in preparation for the Messiah and the new kingdom.

John’s sole purpose was to glorify Jesus, and it began in the womb as we are told in the Gospel of Luke. John leapt in the presence of Jesus, even though both were unborn. Our sole purpose, as well, is to glorify Jesus. Good works are only good if done in His name.

We might also do well to consider what John says, as it is a humble response to God and to service. He says, “After me comes a man who has surpassed me, because he existed before me.” All believers and nonbelievers alike should allow this to echo within their souls. It provides perspective and grounding in a world increasingly marked by chaos and turmoil.

John was a revealer, and in real terms this presentation of Jesus was a revelation no less important than when the veil of the Temple was torn at the crucifixion. This presentation of Jesus as Christ and Savior was indeed an apocalyptic event. One of historic consequence. In modern vernacular this was a “game changer.” Nothing would ever be the same, and we should be deeply grateful.

God tells each one of us who Jesus is either by the way of direct spiritual intervention, the testimony of another individual, or through technology itself. In this way we have all been presented with Jesus. Do we accept Him and follow Him as rabbi, or do we walk back into our old lives as disillusioned as before?

Pretend for a moment that you are on the banks of the River Jordan, at Bethany, and John is presenting Jesus to you; how will you choose?

Will you choose to follow the Son of God?