John Testifies Again About Jesus

John knew it, as should we all. We have a calling. We are to be filled and allow our blessings to bless others…

John 3:22-36
22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. 24 (This was before John was put in prison.) 25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”

27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30 He must become greater; I must become less.”[h]

31 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33 Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God[i] gives the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

John is so faithful and receiving of the gift that God so graciously bestowed on all of us. He knew what was to come. He expected it to come as it was written long before he set foot on this earth. Without a shadow of a doubt John knew who Jesus was, even if it meant the end of his ministry. John knew that it was his time to step aside allow others to receive as well.

God has this calling on all of our lives as well. We are to prepare the way for others. Our testimonies are to be used for the benefit of others. We become living, breathing examples of His graciousness and love. We are not to use this gift to further our own interests for they do not belong to us. Because we are His, all gifts bestowed upon is are His. They are gifts given to all believers to once again be given away.

Once we understand this and we begin to give away the gifts that are so gratefully and graciously given to us, our lives will be filled to the point of overflow. At this point, we will receive so much blessing that many times they will go unnoticed. All of the wishes and dreams that we thought meant so much to us, will fill our lives and flow from us to others around us. It is how He works.

It is summed up in this great story:

There Are Two Seas in Palestine…
The Sea of Galilee is beautiful. It has blue water and is full of fauna and flora. Life exists. Trees line its banks where children splash and play. The Jordan River makes this sea, flowing from the sunny hills. And life is happy and vibrant around this sea.

Through the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan River continues to flow south. Into another sea the cool rolling waters flow. Into the Dead Sea. Here there are no fish swimming, no birds flying above, no families sunning near the shoreline. No man or animal will drink the water here. Life does not exist and no one wants to be here.

One might ask: What makes this enormous difference between these neighboring seas? Could it be the Jordan River? No. The same flowing waters empty into both bodies. It is also not the soil, not the people, not the geography.

So what is the difference?

The Sea of Galilee receives, but does not keep the Jordan. For every drop that flows into, another drop flows out. The Sea of Galilee gives equally as it receives.

But the Dead Sea keeps the Jordan. It has no outlet. Every drop it gets, it keeps. It is not tempted to share and stockpiles its incoming waters aggressively.

There are two seas in Palestine. The Sea of Galilee gives, lives and flourishes. And the Dead Sea keeps everything, shares nothing and is dead.

We are to be the Sea of Life through Jesus Christ.

Amen
DK