John 1:29-34
29The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”
32Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.”
Revelation 5:11-12
11Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12In a loud voice they sang:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”
John the Baptist start the Baptist Church that you may know of today. He wasn’t the first Southern Baptist or anything. He was a wild preacher who spoke of forgiveness and salvation. While preaching one day, John spotted Jesus and boldly said, “This is the One of whom I said, ‘the One coming after me has surpassed me, because He existed before me’” (John 1:15). God used John the Baptist to “roll out the red carpet” for Jesus as Jesus was beginning His ministry among the people.
You might have something in common with John the Baptist. You too can prepare people for the coming of Jesus! Think of ways that you can be a light to this world, a light to the world you’re in right now.
Related Text:
Hebrews 11:9-28
1 Peter 1:18-20
Matthew 5:14-16
