March 6, 2024

John the Baptist had a historically important role. He was prophesied about and hand-picked by God to prepare the way for Jesus. But one of the things I love about him is how amazingly real and humble he was. Though he knew who he was, he also knew who he was not. He was not Jesus.
In our passage today, John makes it clear that he was insignificant in comparison to who Jesus was and what Jesus came to do. Like Jesus, John knew how to draw a crowd. Also like Jesus, John had a divine boldness that refused to back down or water down the truth, even for the most powerful people of his day. He preached like Jesus, too, with an authority that people recognized and respected. As Jesus would later say about John, there was never anyone like him before.
But John also knew who the real Savior was. It was Jesus. John knew that though he might be able to draw a crowd, only Jesus had the power to change their lives. John knew he couldn’t heal like Jesus could heal. He knew he couldn’t pierce hearts like Jesus could pierce hearts. John knew that only Jesus was the answer to the deep needs of people’s lives. And only Jesus could save souls.
This is something we must remind ourselves of regularly. Though God can use us greatly to prepare the way for Jesus in people’s lives, we must never forget that ultimately it is Jesus whom they need. We can baptize them with water, but only Jesus can impart His Spirit to them. We can teach lessons, but only Jesus can transform their minds with the truth. We can preach sermons, but only Jesus can bring conviction to someone’s heart. He alone is the one who can forgive their sins. He alone is the one who can heal their diseases. He alone is the one who can restore their marriages. Like John, we must all do our part to serve faithfully and give our all to the work that God has called us to do, but at the end of the day we must always return to this one significant understanding. It’s not US that the people really need. They need Jesus. That’s God’s Word for you today.