Jeff Klein, Pastor of Outreach
Jeff Klein 0:07
Welcome to Elmhurst CRCs daily dose in the word of God. This is Jeff Klein, the Pastor of Outreach here at the church. It's Friday, February 24. This week we're journeying toward the cross, stumbling along with John the Baptist from John 1, verses 29 through 34.
Jeff Klein 0:22
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.” Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.
Jeff Klein 1:05
John the Baptist has one job – to point to Jesus – to be the Elijah Isaiah wrote about who would come and prepare the way for the Messiah. He took his part so seriously that, II Kings 1:8 tells us, "he even dressed like Elijah." John says here that God showed him who the one (the Messiah) when the Spirit of God descended and rested on Jesus. Once he saw this, he began to testify that Jesus is the chosen one of God. Sometimes we read these Bible stories and make these people into superheroes. It’s understandable, too. Who they are and how they exercise their faith often seems way beyond us. But, it is important to remember that these people were just like us. They stumbled, doubted, lost their way and had moments when it wasn’t so clear.
Jeff Klein 1:54
John had one of these. In Matthew 11, he is in prison because of his prophetic criticism of Herod Antipas and his antics with his brother's (Philip) wife. From the prison, John sends his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the one or should we look for another?” What?! How can the guy who saw the Spirit of God descend and rest on Jesus wonder or have doubts or questions about whether he is the Messiah? It seems crazy. And yet, in this moment, John’s faith was staggered and floundered. Who knows what made him wonder? Was it the fact that Jesus hadn’t rescued him from prison? Was it not seeing?
Jeff Klein 2:35
I don’t know, but it gives me comfort to know that John stumbled. In that dark hour, he wasn’t so sure. He couldn’t remember what he had seen and he lost sight of what he really believed. If that is you today, then take comfort - you’re just like John. And just like Jesus set John straight that day, he can meet you wherever you are, in the middle of your questions and your doubts. Maybe the lesson is: bring your questions to Jesus If he can handle John’s, he can handle yours.