Make Straight

"John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, 'This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' '.John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, 'I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.' ' "

John 1:15, 23

He was one of the most colorful prophets of the Bible. He stirred up Israel and set the stage for Jesus to enter. Isaiah prophesied about him 700 years before his birth. The religious leaders thought he was crazy. His parents praised God for letting them be his parents and for blessing them with him in their old age. Numerous people were baptized by him. Herod hated him. Some of Jesus' disciples followed him before they followed Jesus. He preached boldly and showed no fear. He was chosen by God to be the one who prepared the way for Jesus. Do you know who he is? That's right, he is John the Baptist.

 

In Luke 1, the angel Gabriel appeared to his father Zechariah and told him that his prayers had been heard. His wife Elizabeth would bear him a son, and he was to give him the name John. Elizabeth and Jesus' mother Mary were cousins, which made John the Baptist and Jesus cousins, too. John would be a joy and delight to his parents and great in the sight of the Lord. He would be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth and bring back many people to the Lord. He was to go before the LORD in the spirit and power of Elijah and to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

 

In John 1, when the people wanted to know who was this man preaching in the wilderness, John confessed that he was not Elijah, the Christ, or the Prophet. He simply used the words of Isaiah the prophet and said, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.' " John the Baptist was sent by God to prepare the way for the Messiah. In ancient times a forerunner would go before a dignitary to announce his coming and clear the way before him. Highways were made straight only for a king. John understood the dignitary he announced was much higher than he. In John 1:27 which says, "He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie," he used an analogy of their time to explain how high Jesus outranked him. In ancient times a slave would have had many menial tasks to perform for his master. However, unstrapping the sandal was considered too menial a task. A person's slave would not do it; the master would do it for himself. John was saying in comparison to Jesus, he was even lower than a slave.

 

John called Jesus the Lamb of God. In the Jewish culture, the symbolism of the lamb would need no explanation. They knew the lamb meant a sacrifice as an atonement for their sins. However, few people understood before the cross that Jesus was to be the final Lamb sacrificed for our sins.

 

The news about this prophet in the wilderness who didn't need a modern day sound system to be heard had spread to Jerusalem, all of Judea, and the region of the Jordan. His clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey, for heaven's sake. This alone would make him an attraction. People were laying aside their work for the day and closing up their shops. They came to hear a man preaching by the Jordan River. The Pharisees had united with the Sadducees, their enemies, to investigate this wild looking man who was preaching and baptizing by the river. One friend dragged another there because she could not go alone. The curious came to see why everyone was talking about Him. The hopeful came seeking one who might finally release them from the political oppression and unrest. People with hopes for their futures...People with dreams for their children...People with questions about their oppression and the evil in the world...People just like you and me.

 

John preached a message of repentance and told the people that the kingdom of God was near. He baptized the people with water. John understood that his life was just to prepare the way for Messiah. When Jesus Messiah appeared on the scene and he baptized him, he says of Jesus in John 3:30, "He must become greater; I must become less." He knew his ministry would dwindle when Jesus' time had come.

 

My friend, you and I can learn much from John's example. We are preparing for our home in heaven and for the return of the King. Our heart's desire should be that He becomes greater and that we become less. May we be filled more with the Spirit and less of our flesh and selfish desires for He is our God!

 

Pray with me: Oh, God, thank You for Your perfect plan. You perfectly planned Jesus' birth and life on earth. You sent John the Baptist to make straight the way for Your Son. Help us to learn from John's life that we are here to serve the kingdom and to prepare the bride for the return of our Groom. May You become greater and we become less. Shine through us so all people see when they see us is Jesus. It's in His name we pray, in Yeshua's Name. Amen.

 

Excerpt from the Jesus Lives Bible study

 

Copyright 2011 © Christ Compels Ministry

Doubts

Doubts
By Shirley Mitchell

“When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, ‘Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?’ "
Matthew 11:2-3

John the Baptist said of Jesus in John 3:30, “He must become greater; I must become less.” He knew his ministry would dwindle when Jesus’ time had come. However, knowing it will happen and living it out are two different things.

In Matthew 11:1-6, John was in Herod’s prison for confronting the king with his sin of adultery with his brother’s wife. He was alone in a dark prison cell. I think the food in the prison would make even you and me long for a taste of those good ole locusts we ate in the wilderness. Some time back in the wilderness with wild animals would be better than the walls that enclosed him and the chains on his body while the prison’s creepy creatures crawled on him. I am sure he did not get prison yard breaks to get some fresh air and play some football. He was alone and in darkness...Plenty of time to think...Plenty of time to reflect on his life.

He sent word to Jesus and asked him, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" I just wonder why he would ask Jesus if He was the Messiah. What was he was thinking all alone in that cell without his blackberry connection to the internet for information and a television to watch the evening news? Information only came through the prison guards and the message he was allowed to receive. I imagine that he thought something like this:

My father told my mother about the angel and that I would be born. He was right about so many things. Did he misunderstand that I would make a way for the Lord? Did he lie and add that part to the angel’s prophecy? No, he wouldn’t lie. I gave my life to You, God. My parents consecrated me since birth. I never drank fermented drink. My entire appearance showed my dedication...My hair, my clothes. Not only was I physically devoted, I was bold with the message I thought Your Spirit was leading me to say. I pointed my finger at those Pharisees. I told them their Jewish pedigree was not the key to a relationship with You. Yet, here I am in this desolate prison under the control of an evil man who makes decisions by his daily lusts. I told people Jesus was the Messiah. I called him the Lamb of God. Was He? I know I had to decrease, but when will He increase? I need to know. Was I wrong? Did I live my life for something that was not true?

I believe he was suffering from a severe case of doubt and took his question to the Messiah. This is the most shuddering question a once faithful disciple could think. Only the brave ask it and seek God to answer any doubts of His ability or willingness to act in their lives.

Has anything happened in your life to cause you to doubt God? Don’t think for a second God will throw His holy fist down on the armrest of His throne in anger over such honesty and willingness for confirmation of the truth of who He is or His involvement with your life. He already knows what you are thinking. A hard heart trying to conceal doubts will disappoint Him and give a foothold to the devil.

John doubted after all he had experienced. He took it to Jesus where his question would be safe. Jesus praised him. We do not have an insecure, tyrant God who zaps us or shelves us when we need strengthening. Our God is prepared for our emotions. Psalm 139:1-4 tells us He perceives our thoughts. He is familiar with all of our ways. He knows every word before it is on our tongues. He already knows so we can be who we really are with Him. We do not have to pretend or deny it.

In Matthew 11:4-6, Jesus answered John’s question by saying, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me." Jesus did not tell John simply, “I’m the Messiah.” Jesus illustrated His title through the proof of His actions instead of stating His title with only words. Jesus was saying that He fulfilled the Messianic prophecies that describe His duties like in Isaiah 29:18-19, Isaiah 35:5-6, and Isaiah 61:1. You see, in Jesus’ eastern culture they would describe a truth in pictures or metaphors. Our western culture expresses a truth through words, bullet points, and definitions. Being fully eastern, John understood a picture reply. Additionally, since Jewish boys were educated and memorized large sections of the Torah, the Psalms, and the prophets, John understood the meaning of the picture words. Jesus painted His self-portrait that showed He was the Messiah.

Soon King Herod would succumb to his lusts and promise his brother’s wife’s daughter anything she desired after her provocative dance for him. Tragically, the gift was the life of the prophet who boldly spoke the truth of her mother’s sins (Matthew 14:1-12). Sadly, the mother thought if she squashed the voice of the truth that spotlighted her sin, then things would be better. Silencing the audible voice of truth never changes the truth, though. If only she had softened her heart and accepted the other truth John offered. If she had repented, then she would have received forgiveness which brings abundant life. Praise God, John did not die without asking his questions and receiving some answers – and some unsolicited praise by the highest opinion of the Anointed One he had proclaimed unashamedly. He was open to Jesus with doubts and Jesus settled them. God can settle our doubts, too – only if we let Him. Let’s take our doubts to Him.

Pray with me: Oh, God, You know the areas of our lives where we doubt that You care or are involved. You also know the times when we doubt who You are. We wonder if You are really good all the time. We question why did something bad happen to those who love You. So we bring our doubts to You and ask You to settle them. You are sovereign, and You are Lord of all. It’s in the Name above all names, in Jesus’ Name, Yeshua’s Name, we pray. Amen.

Copyright ©2009 Christ Compels
Excerpt from the Jesus Lives Bible study

Make Straight

Make Straight
By Shirley Mitchell

"John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, 'This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' '.John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, 'I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.' ' "
John 1:15, 23

He was one of the most colorful prophets of the Bible. He stirred up Israel and set the stage for Jesus to enter. Isaiah prophesied about him 700 years before his birth. The religious leaders thought he was crazy. His parents praised God for letting them be his parents and for blessing them with him in their old age. Numerous people were baptized by him. Herod hated him. Some of Jesus' disciples followed him before they followed Jesus. He preached boldly and showed no fear. He was chosen by God to be the one who prepared the way for Jesus. Do you know who he is? That's right, he is John the Baptist.

In Luke 1, the angel Gabriel appeared to his father Zechariah and told him that his prayers had been heard. His wife Elizabeth would bear him a son, and he was to give him the name John. Elizabeth and Jesus' mother Mary were cousins, which made John the Baptist and Jesus cousins, too. John would be a joy and delight to his parents and great in the sight of the Lord. He would be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth and bring back many people to the Lord. He was to go before the LORD in the spirit and power of Elijah and to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

In John 1, when the people wanted to know who was this man preaching in the wilderness, John confessed that he was not Elijah, the Christ, or the Prophet. He simply used the words of Isaiah the prophet and said, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.' " John the Baptist was sent by God to prepare the way for the Messiah. In ancient times a forerunner would go before a dignitary to announce his coming and clear the way before him. Highways were made straight only for a king. John understood the dignitary he announced was much higher than he. In John 1:27 which says, "He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie," he used an analogy of their time to explain how high Jesus outranked him. In ancient times a slave would have had many menial tasks to perform for his master. However, unstrapping the sandal was considered too menial a task. A person's slave would not do it; the master would do it for himself. John was saying in comparison to Jesus, he was even lower than a slave.

John called Jesus the Lamb of God. In the Jewish culture, the symbolism of the lamb would need no explanation. They knew the lamb meant a sacrifice as an atonement for their sins. However, few people understood before the cross that Jesus was to be the final Lamb sacrificed for our sins.

The news about this prophet in the wilderness who didn't need a modern day sound system to be heard had spread to Jerusalem, all of Judea, and the region of the Jordan. His clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey, for heaven's sake. This alone would make him an attraction. People were laying aside their work for the day and closing up their shops. They came to hear a man preaching by the Jordan River. The Pharisees had united with the Sadducees, their enemies, to investigate this wild looking man who was preaching and baptizing by the river. One friend dragged another there because she could not go alone. The curious came to see why everyone was talking about Him. The hopeful came seeking one who might finally release them from the political oppression and unrest. People with hopes for their futures...People with dreams for their children...People with questions about their oppression and the evil in the world...People just like you and me.

John preached a message of repentance and told the people that the kingdom of God was near. He baptized the people with water. John understood that his life was just to prepare the way for Messiah. When Jesus Messiah appeared on the scene and he baptized him, he says of Jesus in John 3:30, "He must become greater; I must become less." He knew his ministry would dwindle when Jesus' time had come.

My friend, you and I can learn much from John's example. We are preparing for our home in heaven and for the return of the King. Our heart's desire should be that He becomes greater and that we become less. May we be filled more with the Spirit and less of our flesh and selfish desires for He is our God!

Pray with me: Oh, God, thank You for Your perfect plan. You perfectly planned Jesus' birth and life on earth. You sent John the Baptist to make straight the way for Your Son. Help us to learn from John's life that we are here to serve the kingdom and to prepare the bride for the return of our Groom. May You become greater and we become less. Shine through us so all people see when they see us is Jesus. It's in His name we pray, in Yeshua's Name. Amen.

Excerpt from the Jesus Lives Bible study