What Jesus Did : John 1:26-28 - Real Places, Real People, Real Savior
by Phil Ware
Real Places, Real People, Real Savior - John 1:26-28
John answered, "I baptize people with water. But there is a person here with you that you don't know. That person is the One who comes after me. I am not good enough to untie the strings on his shoes." These things all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan River. This is where John was baptizing people. (ERV) Full TextKey Thought
"Long ago in a galaxy far far away ...." If we are not careful, we can find ourselves looking at the story of Jesus like we view a work of good fiction. John wants us to know that his story about Jesus is more than just a good tale. This is a story about real places, real people, and a real Savior. Yes, there was real water for baptism. There was a real city around which all this happened. There were real, everyday people who came to this place along the Jordan River to open their hearts to the Kingdom of God. Soon, John reminds both them and us, there will be a real Savior on the scene. God will walk among us in Jesus. He will get the dust of our streets on his feet. He will be so great, I am not worthy to do the most menial work of a slave—kneel down, unlatch his sandals, and clean his feet. Dirt, sweat, feet, rivers, people, cities, crowds ... real people, real Savior, real Jesus!
Today's Prayer
O what wondrous love you've shown, O God, by sending your perfect son to live in my imperfect world. O what wondrous grace you've given, dear Father, when you allowed yourself to be soiled by the dust of my existence so that I could live for the praise of your glory. I praise you. I thank you. I love you. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
The Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent some priests and Levites to John. The Jews sent them to ask, "Who are you?" John spoke freely. John did not refuse to answer. John said clearly, "I am not the Christ. " That is what John told people. The Jews asked John, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah ?" John answered, "No, I am not Elijah." The Jews asked, "Are you the Prophet ?" John answered, "No, I am not the Prophet." Then the Jews said, "Who are you? Tell us about yourself. Give us an answer to tell the people who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" John told them the words of the prophet Isaiah: "I am the voice of a person shouting in the desert: 'Make a straight road ready for the Lord.'" These Jews were sent from the Pharisees. These men said to John: "You say you are not the Christ. You say you are not Elijah or the Prophet. Then why do you baptize people?" John answered, "I baptize people with water. But there is a person here with you that you don't know. That person is the One who comes after me. I am not good enough to untie the strings on his shoes." These things all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan River. This is where John was baptizing people. The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him. John said, "Look, the Lamb of God. He takes away the sins of the world! This is the One I was talking about. I said, 'A man will come after me, but he is greater than I am, because he was living before me—{he has always lived}.' Even I did not know who he was. But I came baptizing people with water so that Israel (the Jews) could know that Jesus is {the Christ} ." Then John said, "I also did not know who the Christ was. But God sent me to baptize people with water. And God told me, 'You will see the Spirit. come down and rest on a man. That man is the One who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. '" John said, "I have seen this happen. I saw the Spirit come down from heaven. The Spirit looked like a dove and sat on him (Jesus). So this is what I tellpeople: 'He (Jesus) is the Son of God.'"-- John 1:19-34 (ERV)
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