Monday:
Read John 1:19-28
1. What is important in who John said he was not?
2. What about who he said he was? Refer to Isaiah 40:3
Tuesday:
Read John 1:19-28
1. In what ways can you honor God with your accomplishments?
2. If you were John, how would you have felt about your role?
Wednesday:
Read John 1:29-34
1. Why is Jesus called "the Lamb of God?"
2. How does Jesus take away the sin of the world?
Thursday:
Read John 1:29-34
1. What is the significance of John's statement in verse 30?
2. Why did John not recognize Him?
3. Why did John come baptizing with water?
Friday:
Read John 1:29-34
1. What is the difference between John's baptism and Jesus' baptism?
2. Why did the Spirit come down upon Jesus?
3. Why is it important that we follow in Christ's example and be baptized?
Sorry that I am late posting this comment and next week's readings. Ally dislocated her arm on Sunday night so we've been busy with that.
ReplyDeleteI break this week's readings into two parts, verses 19-28 and 29-34.
19-28 are all about the humility of John the Baptist. He had every opportunity during this encounter to make himself bigger than he was. He could have said that he was the Messiah or Elijah, but instead he made it very clear that he was not. To me this is a great example of how we can react when someone points out something good we do. Instead of taking credit, we can point to Christ and say that he is the reason we are doing it. I want all to see that anything I do is out of love, love that Christ has shown to me and I try to pass on to others. So, John not allowing them to call him Christ shows his humility. By the way, if you want example of someone who allows others to worship him and call him god, look in Acts 12:20-23, where Herod Antipas doesn't give God the glory.
I think it is also important to understand who John was, he was one spoke of in the Old Testament. He could have thought very highly of himself, how many people were prophesied about? Not many. Instead of building himself up, he says that he is not even worthy to untie Jesus' sandals. I believe to understand God's grace through Jesus makes us all more humble. I think we all need to understand, as John did, who Jesus is and that we are not worthy to untie his sandals. In other words, we are not worthy to serve Jesus. Our calling to follow and serve Him should be seen as a priviledge and a gift. It makes me wonder how the world would be different if we were to serve with joy, even when the serving causes trouble or isn't comfortable. Understanding this, has helped me understand that this is where our good works come from, from the grace and love of Christ. Don't get me wrong, these works do not save us, but if we truly know who Christ is then we will most definitely live differently than before we knew Him and we will have fruit coming from our lives.
I think this thought brings us into the rest of these verses. We must be filled with the Spirit, like Jesus was, in order to come to a true belief. The dove coming down on Jesus represents what happens to us when the Spirit comes into us and we truly believe in Christ. The Spirit doesn't just come and sit inside of us, He will change us and we will want to live for Christ.
Also, Jesus was baptized because He was showing us what we are to do in our lives, like being baptized and then going into the dark world as a light.
I pray that you all are reading this Scripture and coming to your own conclusions on what God is saying through these words. I know there is more that can be taken from them so please comment if there is something that touched you in a different way than it did me.