Thursday
Thursday
The Witness of John the Baptist
There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light.
John 1:6–7
John the Baptist is often called Jesus’s “forerunner” because, in fulfillment of a prophecy of Isaiah, he was sent in advance to “prepare the way for the Lord” (Mark 1:3). All four evangelists refer to his ministry, for they recognize its importance. In him the voice of prophecy, long silent, was heard again.
John’s message was, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” (Matt. 3:2). In other words, the Messiah was about to arrive and inaugurate his rule. In order to be ready for his coming, the people must repent and receive John’s baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of their sins. Many responded. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the River Jordan.
John also gave a warning of judgment. He depicted the Messiah as having a winnowing fork in his hand, with which he will separate the wheat from the chaff.
But the characteristic ministry of the Messiah, according to the Baptist, would relate to salvation rather than judgment. These are John’s words:
Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
John 1:29
He … will baptize with the Holy Spirit.
John 1:33
Putting these two verses together, we see that the characteristic work of Jesus is twofold. It involves a removal and a bestowal, a taking away of sin and a baptizing with the Holy Spirit. These are the two great gifts of Jesus Christ our Savior—forgiveness and the Spirit. They are the two major blessings of the new covenant. They were promised by the prophets and confirmed by John the Baptist as gifts of the Messiah.
For further reading: John 1:29–34