Every Day With Jesus Devotional, January 25, 2023
Every Day With Jesus
25: The Greatest Prophet
John 3:22-36
John 3:22-36
John's Testimony Concerning Jesus
22After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. 23And John also was baptizing in AEnon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. 24For John was not yet cast into prison.
25Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. 26And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi (Note: means Teacher in Hebrew), he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. 27John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven (Note: wow!). 28Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. 29He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. 30He (christ Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease. (Note: Praise the Lord)
31He (Jesus) that cometh from above (Heaven) is above all (God's creation): he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. 32And what he (Jesus) hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. 33He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. 34For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. 35The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. 36He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
John 3:30
He (Jesus Christ) must increase, but I must decrease.
Jesus said in Luke 7:28, “Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist.” I believe the story of John shows us the main reason Jesus called him the greatest prophet that ever lived.
John the Baptist spent thirty years in preparation for his ministry. He didn’t enjoy the normal benefits of childhood or adolescence. He lived out in the desert, away from people and separated unto God. (Luke 1:80.) Then finally, for approximately six months he enjoyed success in ministry like no other man ever had. The multitudes flocked to the wilderness to hear him preach. He became the most influential man in Israel and was known to the Roman rulers.
Then one day he baptized Jesus in the Jordan River and proclaimed Him the Messiah.
Matthew 3:13-17
The Baptism of Jesus
(Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:29-34)
13Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 16And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
John 1:2
The same was in the beginning with God.
From that moment on, the multitudes and even his own disciples began to follow Jesus in ever-increasing numbers. This would have destroyed most men; but when he was questioned about it, John replied, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Shortly after that he was imprisoned (Matt. 4:12), and after one-and-a-half years in a dark cell, he was beheaded. (Note: this is how we must all be toward That which is above us: "He must increase, but we must decrease)
John’s greatness didn’t lie in his own success but in the success of another. Jesus owed much of His success to the preparatory work of John. In our celebrity-conscious society, few people want to be the backup singer or the stage manager. We have adopted a mentality that unless we are in the limelight we are nothing. That’s not the way Jesus sees things! He taught in Matthew 23:11, “He that is greatest among you shall be your servant.”
Surely John the Baptist was the greatest prophet because he was a great servant to Jesus. His life and Jesus’ commendation for him is all you need to inspire you to be a great servant to Jesus and everyone you meet today. (Note: amen)!
Devotional by Pastor Andrew Wommack.
Blog and Notes by Kingdom Business Us dot Blogspot dot Com pflb (c) 1/25/23
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