The Effect of John the Baptist

But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him. Luke 7:26-30

Steps: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12

About the time of the death of John Jesus asked who had the people gone out to meet? He asked them a number or rhetorical questions showing that John was not like the Jewish leadership, but was a man sent by God to accomplish a specific purpose. John was the forerunner for Jesus and when He had accomplished his purpose John was laid to rest – he died for Jesus. He died so that men could see that a faithful follower of God could do right and still die a martyr’s death. He also died so that even the least follower of God could see that they had the opportunity of seeing the wonders of God while John did not have the opportunity. The people also saw that those who followed John and through whom they had had a recovery experience treated spiritual things differently than those who did not have a recovery experience with. Those who knew John ended up accepting Jesus as the Son of the Living God.

Prayer for Today: God, we ask that even though we never met John the Baptist we can know him through Your Word. Help us to be blessed by his recovery experience and his total trust in You. Grant us the opportunity to have our eyes opened that we may see the things that John did not get to see but to still have the complete trust in You that he had. Thank You for granting us this gift and this opportunity.