Luke 3:21-22
"Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased," Luke 3:31-22.
John the Baptist has been preaching, instructing the people, and baptizing. He has been saying what God gave him to say, and doing what God ordained for him to do. John has not deviated from the message or from the mission. He has been preaching repentance. The people were trusting in their lineage, and in their works. John addresses this in Luke 3:7-8. The Jews saw themselves as being spiritually better than the rest of the world. John tells them they need the Saviour, just like the rest of the world. As a sign that they confessed that they needed the Saviour, the people would be baptized. Remember, baptism doesn't do something, it says something. John's baptism proclaimed that the person being immersed in water was in full agreement with what John preached. No one is the exception to the rule, all need the Saviour. It helps when we remember that Christian baptism doesn't save, doesn't wash away our sins, but gives us a clear conscience by the resurrection of Jesus Christ (I Peter 3:21). "In baptism persons make a public confession of God, and openly put on Christ before men: the sense seems plainly this; that then is baptism rightly performed, and its end answered, when a person, conscious to himself of its being an ordinance of Christ, and of his duty to submit to it, does do so upon profession of his faith in Christ, in obedience to his command, and "with" a view to his glory; in doing which he discharges a good conscience towards God." John Gill. We have a clear conscience towards God when we are knowingly obedient to His Word. If you are knowingly being disobedient to God's Word, you will not have a clear conscience.
"Now when all the people were baptized." The main part of John's ministry was preparing the people for the coming Saviour. This he did, and he did it well. John was faithful to his calling. John's ministry was short. Once Jesus Christ started His public ministry, John's ministry began winding down. John's ministry was brief, but impactful. John did not stop baptizing after he baptized Jesus, but his ministry began to change. Turn to John 3:22-36. Verse 30 is a verse most of us know, "He must increase, but I must decrease." We should not judge a man's ministry by the longevity of it, but by his faithfulness to the Lord. Throughout history we see God using people for a short time, and a long time, and any time in between. Here are a few examples. The apostles; only John lived to be an old man, the rest were martyred. No matter how long they lived, they lived for Christ. "According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain," Philippians 1:20-21. Throughout history we see people like Robert Murray M'Cheyne, who died before he was 30 years old. God used this young man greatly. "It is not great talents God blesses so much as great likeness to Jesus. A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God." Robert M. M'Cheyne. Another short-lived ministry was that of David Brainerd who also died before he was 30. Born April 20, 1718, died October 9, 1747. "I could have no freedom in the thought of any other circumstances or business in life: All my desire was the conversion of the heathen, and all my hope was in God: God does not suffer me to please or comfort myself with hopes of seeing friends, returning to my dear acquaintance, and enjoying worldly comforts." David Brainard.
Another well-known name is Charles Spurgeon. He is known as the "Prince of Preachers". He died at the age of 57. "We are quite persuaded that the very best way for you to be spending your leisure time, is to be either reading or praying. You may get much instruction from books which afterwards you may use as a true weapon in your Lord and Master's service. Paul cries, "Bring the books" - join in the cry." C.H. Spurgeon. Another man is John Gill who lived to be 73. He pastored one church for over fifty years. "I value nothing in comparison to gospel truths. I am not afraid to be poor." John Gill. A lady named Ann Judson, wife of missionary Adoniram Judson, did not live forty years on this earth. She was a lady sold out to the Lord, and lovingly submitted to serve her husband in a foreign land where she ultimately gave her life for the work of the ministry. "A little sacrifice for the cause of Christ is not worth naming; and I feel it a privilege, of which I am entirely undeserving, to have had it in my power to sacrifice my all for Him who hesitated not to lay down His life for sinners." Ann Judson. Though these faithful servants of the Lord have died, they are still burning brightly for their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. There are multiple people we could name today who are still living that God has used around this world. Then there are those who the world will never know about. We do not gauge a person's ministry by longevity or popularity, but by their faithfulness to the Lord.
The ministry of John the Baptist was not about him, but about the Lord. In case you have not figured this out yet, men will fail you, but our Lord and Saviour never will. We should thank the Lord for Him giving us faithful servants. Let us bring this home to us. If the Lord has saved your soul, you are also a servant of the Lord. He has given gifts to His church, to be used in and through the local church. More than likely no one in a 10 mile radius will know who you are, but the Lord does. "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister," Hebrews 6:10. All that we do we should do for our Lord and Saviour. From cleaning the toilets to preparing the sermons, do all we do as unto Him, and not unto men. This gives us a biblical perspective on why we do what we do. Why do you read, pray, study, attend, give, minister, etc.? Make sure you are doing all for the Lord and see how your perspective changes.
John the Baptist fulfilled his ministry. He prepared the way for the coming Messiah. He wasn't trying to build his own kingdom, no, he was faithful to do and say what he had been given to do and to say by God. How is our obedience to the Lord; how is our conscience in our Christian walk; and are we living for the Lord? Jesus Christ is worthy to live for, and to die for. Even so, come Lord Jesus.
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