Our paragraph topic is: (Christ's witness concerning John) Part 1.
The disciples of John leave Christ after he has dispelled the lies of Scandal. Christ would not allow Scandal to come forth. He would not allow doubt to rear its ugly head. He would not permit the lies and deceit that Scandal brings to come into his mist. Instead he offered the disciples of John redemption. He offered the disciples of John salvation. He reached out a hand to them and told them to be blessed. He told them that when they do not find Scandal in themselves that they would be blessed. For they wanted fame. They wanted notoriety. They sought to be restored to their position with John when he was the main attraction in the desert. Then Christ came along and changed all that. He became the main attraction.
Christ performed miracles. Christ healed the sick. Christ made the lame walk. Christ raised the dead. And these acts put him in the center of attraction. The word spread of his deeds. Many talked of seeing, first hand, the performance of his miracles. They were the news anchors who spread the word of Christ, the miracle healer, the all powerful, the Messiah has come. And many came from miles around. Many came to hear his words of freedom. Many came to hear his words of justice. Many came to touch him, to be near him, to see him. Faith was in their hearts. Hope was in their minds. And belief of a new beginning was in their needs. They had lived a life of pain and suffering with no idea of any presence of hope. They had lived a life of desperation. They had lived a life of despair. And Christ came to lift them up. Christ came to give hope. Christ came to help their belief. He came to show them the way and the truth and to provide light that they might see.
Christ witnessed to the greatness of John the Baptist. For the crowd had heard the question of the disciples of John. The crowd knew them of former fame. The crowd had once believed in them. But now Christ was here and the disciples of John wanted to regain their fame. Christ put a stop to the spread of Scandal. He testified to the greatness of John and the mission that he performed. Christ asked the crowd, '' What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments?" He tested their memories of John. He created a picture of John in their minds. John was not a soft man. John was a man raised in the desert. He was a strong man with outspoken beliefs. He did not wear fine clothes or soft shoes or speak with proper language. John was bold. He was daring. He was loud and he spoke of the coming of the Messiah to the people, telling them to repent and make way for the coming of the Lord. He was a prophet in the true sense.
Christ told the people, "But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet." For John indeed was a prophet who spoke the coming of the kingdom of God. And the people believed in John because he was a true prophet. What the prophets speak about, come to pass and Christ wanted to emphasize this fact in the minds of the people. He wanted to refresh in their memories the affection that the people had for John and his prophesies. He wanted to dispel Scandal that was brought by the disciples of John. John spoke of the coming of the Messiah. John spoke of repentance to the people so that they would be prepared to receive the message of the Messiah. And the Messiah was here. The Messiah that John preached about was speaking to them just as John had spoken.
There are many voices in the world. The world itself calls us everyday, of which we cannot escape. Yet Christ has given us defenses to negate the voice of the world. Scandal calls us also to become her voice and her messenger. We must beware the snares that she places in our paths, that we do not become her spokesperson as is accepted in the world today. Seek the voice of the prophet. Listen for his words. Seek the justice of a just man. For he walks with Justice and is her child. Seek the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit and you will be blessed all the days of your life. For the Holy Spirit will teach all things. The Holy Spirit will guide you through the traps of the world. And the Holy Spirit will lead you down the narrow path to salvation. Do you seek the voice of the Holy Spirit? Do you know Him? Many will speak the words of Christ for their own glory and edification. But few will lead to the Holy Spirit. For what does it profit to hear a few words of wisdom when Wisdom calls you herself. What does it profit to teach verses of understandings when true understanding awaits your call. Teach the whole Gospel. Preach the complete word of Christ and point to the understanding of his words and you will understand. Read the whole New Testament Bible and receive Christ. These are the only words that should fill ones mind daily and not partial verses. Encourage others to read. Spread the word. The Holy Spirit awaits your call.
The disciples of John leave Christ after he has dispelled the lies of Scandal. Christ would not allow Scandal to come forth. He would not allow doubt to rear its ugly head. He would not permit the lies and deceit that Scandal brings to come into his mist. Instead he offered the disciples of John redemption. He offered the disciples of John salvation. He reached out a hand to them and told them to be blessed. He told them that when they do not find Scandal in themselves that they would be blessed. For they wanted fame. They wanted notoriety. They sought to be restored to their position with John when he was the main attraction in the desert. Then Christ came along and changed all that. He became the main attraction.
Christ performed miracles. Christ healed the sick. Christ made the lame walk. Christ raised the dead. And these acts put him in the center of attraction. The word spread of his deeds. Many talked of seeing, first hand, the performance of his miracles. They were the news anchors who spread the word of Christ, the miracle healer, the all powerful, the Messiah has come. And many came from miles around. Many came to hear his words of freedom. Many came to hear his words of justice. Many came to touch him, to be near him, to see him. Faith was in their hearts. Hope was in their minds. And belief of a new beginning was in their needs. They had lived a life of pain and suffering with no idea of any presence of hope. They had lived a life of desperation. They had lived a life of despair. And Christ came to lift them up. Christ came to give hope. Christ came to help their belief. He came to show them the way and the truth and to provide light that they might see.
Christ witnessed to the greatness of John the Baptist. For the crowd had heard the question of the disciples of John. The crowd knew them of former fame. The crowd had once believed in them. But now Christ was here and the disciples of John wanted to regain their fame. Christ put a stop to the spread of Scandal. He testified to the greatness of John and the mission that he performed. Christ asked the crowd, '' What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments?" He tested their memories of John. He created a picture of John in their minds. John was not a soft man. John was a man raised in the desert. He was a strong man with outspoken beliefs. He did not wear fine clothes or soft shoes or speak with proper language. John was bold. He was daring. He was loud and he spoke of the coming of the Messiah to the people, telling them to repent and make way for the coming of the Lord. He was a prophet in the true sense.
Christ told the people, "But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet." For John indeed was a prophet who spoke the coming of the kingdom of God. And the people believed in John because he was a true prophet. What the prophets speak about, come to pass and Christ wanted to emphasize this fact in the minds of the people. He wanted to refresh in their memories the affection that the people had for John and his prophesies. He wanted to dispel Scandal that was brought by the disciples of John. John spoke of the coming of the Messiah. John spoke of repentance to the people so that they would be prepared to receive the message of the Messiah. And the Messiah was here. The Messiah that John preached about was speaking to them just as John had spoken.
There are many voices in the world. The world itself calls us everyday, of which we cannot escape. Yet Christ has given us defenses to negate the voice of the world. Scandal calls us also to become her voice and her messenger. We must beware the snares that she places in our paths, that we do not become her spokesperson as is accepted in the world today. Seek the voice of the prophet. Listen for his words. Seek the justice of a just man. For he walks with Justice and is her child. Seek the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit and you will be blessed all the days of your life. For the Holy Spirit will teach all things. The Holy Spirit will guide you through the traps of the world. And the Holy Spirit will lead you down the narrow path to salvation. Do you seek the voice of the Holy Spirit? Do you know Him? Many will speak the words of Christ for their own glory and edification. But few will lead to the Holy Spirit. For what does it profit to hear a few words of wisdom when Wisdom calls you herself. What does it profit to teach verses of understandings when true understanding awaits your call. Teach the whole Gospel. Preach the complete word of Christ and point to the understanding of his words and you will understand. Read the whole New Testament Bible and receive Christ. These are the only words that should fill ones mind daily and not partial verses. Encourage others to read. Spread the word. The Holy Spirit awaits your call.
