Knollwood Community Church: Burke, VA

A Man Worth Emulating

by Brian Conaway on June 21, 2010

So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us.” John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’ It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the best man is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success.  He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.”  John 3: 26-30 NLT

Gospel Puzzler of the Week: No takers last week. Enoch is the other person who didn’t experience physical death but was ‘translated’.  Who appeared to and talked with Jesus during His transfiguration?  Submit a ‘comment’ and share your answer.

 John the Baptist is a fascinating and rather mysterious Bible character.  I hope you have learned some new things in this mini-study (maybe not so ‘mini’ at 7 weeks) about the one Jesus claimed was ‘as great as any man that had ever lived’.  Let’s recap.  JTB’s coming birth was announced to his father Zechariah by the angel Gabriel.   Both his mother and father were of priestly lineage, Godly, and old.  JTB was full of the Holy Spirit before his birth and had the spirit and power of Elijah afterwards.  He was a nazirite from birth (didn’t drink alcohol, ate no grape products, didn’t cut his hair or touch dead things) and lived a monastic lifestyle out in the wilderness of Israel.  He was only about 6 months older than his cousin Jesus.  He had disciples and when given the green light from God, began his ministry of preparing the way for the Messiah Jesus.  He preached that people needed to ‘turn from their sins and turn to God’.  Those that did, he baptized usually in the River Jordan, including Jesus right before He began His ministry.  JTB did no miracles yet he was very popular in Israel and beyond – so popular those in religious authority feared public riots if they claimed he was anything less than a prophet.  His life and ministry were both short, but long enough to achieve the mission he was given by God.  He was eventually arrested, jailed, and beheaded by Herod Antipas.

 There is much about John’s life that is worthy of emulation by believers today.  Let’s identify some of his admirable qualities and traits.  1.  JTB knew who he was, who he wasn’t, and knew his mission [John 1:19-27].  2. John was committed, disciplined, and dedicated to his calling [Luke 3:2-6].  3.  JTB was bold [Matthew 3:7-10].  4.   John was courageous [Luke 3: 19-20].  He was humble [Mark 1:7-8].  JTB was gracious [John 3:26-30].   John wasn’t perfect and knew it. He had committed sin like all men.  However, the worst thing the gospels have to say about JTB is his momentary doubt, experienced in prison, about Jesus being the Messiah.   He sent some of his disciples to Jesus to ask that very question.  Jesus tells them to go back to John and tell what they heard and saw Him do as verification that indeed He was the Messiah.  When JTB’s disciples left, Jesus spoke to the crowd about John the Baptist and stated he was ‘a prophet and more!’  Let us work hard today and every day to incorporate some of John’s qualities into our walk with the Lord.  Shema?

 Up Next Week:  Gospel per Month ‘pulse check’.