Lectionary reading below: This is based on the Gospel of John on the Baptist - extra info if wanted ...

                                  

THE FORERUNNER 2012

John 1:19-28

William Temple on the reading of the Bible:

I am chiefly concerned with what arises in my mind and spirit as I read: and hope this is not totally different from saying that I am concerned with what the Holy Spirit says to me through the Gospel. … This is always a legitimate way to read the Bible, and religiously the most important. For the Word of God does not consist of printed propositions; it is living; it is personal; it is Jesus Christ. That living Word of God speaks to us through the printed words of Scripture; and all our study of those printed words help us to receive it. But the point of vital importance is the utterance of the Divine Word to the soul, the self-communication of the Father to his children. (Page xiii)

The Benedictine Prayer Book puts it this way:

It is good to pause between prayers and readings and above all listen carefully in our heart for what the words say to us … especially in the reading of the word of God in Scripture. If we listen with ‘… the ears of the heart …’ as St Benedict put it, the word of God comes to us here and now to teach and guide and His love touches our individual lives.

The words of sacred Scripture are the words of God. They come down to us written by human hand, but are inspired by the Holy Spirit. Each page of every book of the Bible is an invitation to listen to the voice of our Creator.

Sometimes when we read Scripture, a word, a phrase or sentence strikes us in some way. … When this occurs a very special thing is happening: God is talking to our heart, telling us something important for our life here and now. We should treasure what is being said to us, take the message away with us …

Let us then listen to the Word of God as it is written in the Gospel of John, chapter 1 and reading verses 19-28:

So often people experience difficulty in understanding what it means when the Bible exhorts us to follow Christ's example. We all know too well that Jesus was perfect in every way and completely without sin. Some people become disheartened even at the thought of striving to be like Christ. We all know that we can never be like him because we are constantly plagued by sin and temptation - and we all too often fall.

Today we have a wonderfully encouraging message - because today we can see what is possible for all humans to achieve in the power of the Holy Spirit. We can all achieve nothing in our own strength, but in the power of the Holy Spirit - we can be transformed into the people we were meant to be. John the Baptist was an ordinary human being like you and me. But John was willing to be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit; John was willing to respond in obedience to what God was calling him to be and to do. Because of this Jesus said of John: “I tell you that no one ever born on this earth is greater than John the Baptist.” (Matthew 11:11a) Notice the second part of this verse contains a wonderful promise to all people because we are given the Holy Spirit: “But whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John.” (Matthew 11:11b) The commentator in the Life Application Bible writes:

No [person] ever fulfilled [their] God-given purpose better than John, Yet in God's kingdom all members have a greater spiritual heritage than John because they have seen and known Christ and his finished work on the cross.

We can therefore learn a great deal from the example of John the Baptist and because of what Jesus has achieved for us and because all people who ask receive the in-filling of the Holy Spirit and power - it is possible to experience even more.

Firstly, a sign of true Godliness is humility. It is also true to say that all Godly people are humble. More than anything else, John the Baptist will be remembered for his great humility. The Jews of Jerusalem leaders were able to see that John was a highly gifted prophet who spoke with true conviction. They were even prepared to honour him and bestow flattering titles upon him and give him status and position but he refused everything the world had to offer. The apostle explains in verses 19-23:

The Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and temple helpers to ask John who he was. He told them plainly, "I am not the Messiah." Then when they asked him if he were Elijah, he said, "No, I am not!" And when they asked if he were the Prophet [many of the Jewish people expected God to send them a prophet who would be like Moses, but with even greater power (Deut. 18:15-18)], he also said "No!" Finally, they said, "Who are you then?" We have to give an answer to the ones who sent us. Tell us who you are!" John answered in the words of the prophet Isaiah, "I am only someone shouting in the desert, `Get the road ready for the Lord!'"

John went so far as to state that he was absolutely nothing compared with Jesus of Nazareth. In verse 27 he stated that he was not even worthy to untie Jesus' sandals. This statement is loaded with meaning when one places it into context. People in the Ancient Near East travelled by foot on hot and dusty paths. In the process one's feet became hot, dirty and smelly. When one arrived at the home of a friend the first courtesy the host would extend would be to wash his guest's feet. No normal, respectable person would actually do the washing themselves - this was a job reserved for slaves. In essence, therefore, John is saying that he is not even worthy of the status of a being a slave for Jesus.

John never sought title or position or status for himself but only wanted to be faithful to what God was calling him to do. In everything he sought to give honour and glory to Jesus. John's attitude is summed up in 3:30: “Jesus must become more important, while I become less important.”

The greatest Christians of every age have had John's attitude. They have often had different gifts, knowledge and character, but in this they have been the same, they have always been humble. They have never been people who sought their own honour, they have always thought little of themselves; they have always been willing to decrease if Christ might increase, to be nothing if Christ could be everything. 1 Peter 5:5-6 reminds us of the importance of this virtue:

In fact, everyone should be humble toward everyone else. The Scriptures say, "God opposes proud people, but helps everyone who is humble." Be humble in the presence of God's mighty power, and he will honour you when the time comes.

Jesus stated: “If you put yourselves above others, you will be put down. But if you humble yourself, you will be honoured.” We should all strive to be humble. Not all of us might have gifts and talents or money to spare for the church or time to work - but all Christians can and should be humble.

Secondly, it is significant that John was baptising people. Coupled with his declaration of who Jesus of Nazareth really was and is was John's call to all people to repent followed by baptising them. First century Jews understood and practised baptism. It was considered an important ritual for people who needed spiritual and ritual cleansing. It was also used when people became Jews from among the Gentiles. When a Gentile decided to become a Jew, he and his entire family were baptised and all males were circumcised. They had to be baptised because, as Gentiles they would have done many things forbidden to Jews and would therefore be ritually unclean. They needed to be cleansed before they could begin their lives as Jews. So they were baptised.

Now John was now calling even practising Jews to be baptised and many were offended. How dare he impose on them a condition reserved for Gentiles? Had John been the promised Messiah, this might have been understandable as the Messiah would have the authority to call people to do anything necessary to become acceptable to God. But John denied any claim to being the Messiah or even being a prophet. It is therefore understandable that the Jewish religious delegation were puzzled why John was baptising Jews. In verse 25 we read: “They asked him, "Why are you baptising people, if you are not the Messiah, Elijah or the Prophet?"” In verses 26 John explains: “I use water to baptise people. But here with you is someone you don't know.”

John explains that all he can do is baptise with water, that is, practise a traditionally acceptable cleansing rite. He did this to draw peoples attention to the fact that someone greater was about to come to them - in his words `... someone you don't know'. Leon Morris suggests that what is important is `... that he is to be followed by someone far greater.' John explains in verse 15 that Jesus was the one he was talking about and who is greater than him because `... he was alive before I was born'. Jesus has always existed because Jesus is God. Again in verses 29 and 30 John stressed this point. We read:

Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! He is the one I told you about when I said, "Someone else will come. He is greater than I am, because he was alive before I was born. I didn't know who he was. But I came to baptise with water, so that everyone in Israel would see him.

John was baptising people in order to remind them of their sin, their need of a saviour and to draw their attention and focus attention on Jesus of Nazareth who was the long awaited Messiah.

Thirdly, notice how so many people were unable or unwilling to accept Jesus even though he was in the midst of them. Christ is still in the midst of us. J C Ryle writes:

Christ is passing by in many a parish and many a congregation, and the vast majority have neither an eye to see him, not an ear to hear Him. The spirit of slumber seems poured out upon them. Money and pleasure, and the world they know; but they know not Christ. The kingdom of God is close to them; but they sleep. Mercy, grace, peace, heaven, eternal life, are so near that they might touch them; and yet they sleep.

Through the words of preachers throughout the world, Jesus is making his offer of forgiveness and wholeness to all people. Through the example of Christians in the world - honest business people, devoted parents, loving children, dedicated teachers, doctors, nurses - all people selflessly giving of themselves to others - reveal Jesus to the world. In sum, Jesus is revealed through the activities and attitudes of Christians.

Are we revealing Jesus to the people we come into contact with? Are we drawing attention to Jesus and other people or do we draw attention to ourselves? Are we becoming less and less important because Jesus and other people are becoming more and more important? Are we becoming more humble or are we still too self-centred and proud? I believe all these are important questions that only we can answer. And the joy of it is when we get it wrong – and I often do – we can repent, receive forgiveness, receive also the infilling of the Holy Spirit, so that we can be enabled to become what we want to be and what God wants us to be in the strength he supplies.