10. The Second Shout (John 1:30-36)
Posted by:
SeLahGirl on
October 25, 2007 at
2:21PM EST
The Second Shout
(John 1:30-36)
30This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'
When
you think about it, John was born six months before Jesus... and John
began to preach and teach before Jesus... yet here he is saying that
Jesus was before him. Again, that clues us in on the fact that Jesus
was God from BEFORE the beginning, before the creation. Just as we
discussed earlier. He always was and will always be. Jesus did not
suddenly exist when he was born as a baby in a manger.
31I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel."
I'm
not sure if John grew up knowing Jesus. I have many cousins that I have
never met. So it could be that they had never actually met, though that
is doubtful. I think this is referring more to the fact that John knew
he was sent to announce that Messiah had arrived, but he wasn't told
who it would be. He was following direction from God with the promise
that Messiah would be revealed to all and that John would be the one to
announce it -- if only he would speak and do all that God instructed.
John's walk was no different than ours, his walk was one of Faith. God
speaks to us all, with specific direction, and we each make our own
choices as to what we will believe and to what extent we will obey. And
God rewards us according to our faithfulness.
32Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.
John
saw something in the spiritual realm. He saw something that was
probably like an airy dove fly down from the heavens and rest upon
Jesus. Such visions often occur like a dream, or something you see in
your mind's eye (though sometimes they are seen with the physical eye
as well). Sounds freaky to those that have never experienced such a
thing, but it's really not so strange a thing in Scripture or in
current times.
A dove is a gentle creature that lands gently
and flutters about softly. It is symbolic of peace and gentleness, much
like that nurturing spirit of a mother that warmly guides her children.
Or like the gentle leading of a good shepherd. That is one of the
personality traits of the Holy Spirit. He comes alongside of us and
converses and communes with us like the most intimate friend or
companion. Giving us advice and wisdom, reminding us of all that God
has spoken, revealing what is true and right because He is the Spirit
of Truth.
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."
So
here was John obeying and preaching in the desert, seemingly a little
out of his mind, a rural country boy claiming that he had a fresh and
urgent word from God. He is watching with anticipation waiting to see
what God said he would see... the revelation of who Messiah would be.
John
knew what it was to be baptized. He was dunking all kinds of people in
the river. He knew what it was to encounter the Holy Spirit. He was
conversing with Him personally and hearing directly from Him. Now, he
is told that there is a baptism into the Holy Spirit.... a dunking, an
immersion, a complete saturation of the Spirit of God upon a person. No
wonder John was so zealous to obey -- such a baptism would be
miraculous thing. John wanted to see such a miracle, so he obeyed all
to the letter. He had gotten a taste of interacting with the Spirit of
God and he wanted more.
35The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"
John
had already declared this to the crowds, and no doubt had been
preaching it and declaring it since the day before when it was
revealed. Word had spread, people had already heard. As John said it
this time, it was for a different purpose. The first time was to reveal
Messiah, the second time was to direct the people and his disciples to
begin to follow Jesus instead of himself. This becomes more evident in
the verses that follow.
Many times I think people hear the
first shout that reveals that Jesus is our Savior who has come to earth
because of his great love for us. And they stop short. They never take
the time to really hear that shout the second time, they never really
consider that it's not enough to hear that Jesus came to earth to save
us -- but each of us must make a decision to believe it -- to own it as
Truth.
We often think that hearing something means we
automatically believe it. But they are actually two separate acts. We
can hear the Truth all day long, but whether we choose to believe it is
another matter. We hear the shout as the Holy Spirit draws us to what
is True. Then we must make the decision to follow Him. That is the
moment that we truly become his disciple, his student, a follower, a
believer, a Christian.
