Title: John the Baptist
Contents
Word: Luke 7:24-28
Title: John the Baptist
If we look at the dictionary meaning of pioneer, it means ‘a person who realizes the need for an idea or an event earlier than others in the time and implements it’. To put it simply and simply, a pioneer refers to a person who first opens up the future or guides the way and introduces someone.
Isaiah 40:3 says, “The voice of one who cries, Prepare ye in the wilderness the way of the Lord; in the desert make straight a highway for our God.” In this verse, ‘Jehovah’s way’ and ‘God’s highway’ have the same meaning and refer to the way God has set for salvation for mankind.
It is Jesus Christ who came to open wide the way of God's salvation for mankind. And it is John the Baptist who was born on this earth six months before the coming of Jesus Christ and introduced the Savior Jesus Christ and led the way.
In Matthew 3:3, it is clearly stated that John the Baptist is the one who 'cries out' in the wilderness, that is, the forerunner who is to come as the Savior proclaimed by the prophet Isaiah.
A thief stood in court. “The defendant broke into the jeweler five times on Christmas Eve, what did he steal?”
To the judge's question, he answered in a muffled voice.
"Yeah! I stole a ring.”
“What? Is it that you went in and out of the jeweler five times and stole only one ring?”
"Yeah! Actually, I stole to give my wife a Christmas present, but I never got anything right, so I got rejected by my wife and kept going in to change it.”
Christmas is coming. What is Christmas? It is the day that Jesus Christ came to this earth to save mankind. But today, the meaning of Christmas has already faded a lot. Just like John the Baptist, the forerunner who led and introduced the coming of Jesus Christ ahead of Christmas, where Jesus is missing, just before Christmas, which has a strong festive significance, I and we are also forerunners who introduce the true meaning of Christmas. I would like to introduce myself and share the grace with you with the words you gave me to take on the role of a pioneer who leads my brothers and neighbors to Jesus Christ.
1. A strong forerunner (v. 24)
I still sometimes confuse reed and silver grass. Eulsukdo, close to our church, is famous for its reed forest. The vast reed fields are spectacular, and many migratory birds visit each year due to the numerous fish and microorganisms living in them.
When the wind blows when visiting Eulsukdo, where reeds are thick, it is really spectacular. It feels like a yellow sea with calm waves. As the many reeds are swaying due to the wind, the spectacle shines even more when the sunlight hits.
The reeds are easily shaken by even the slightest wind. So there is also this proverb. “A woman’s heart is like a reed.” This is a proverb that means that a woman’s heart is easily shaken by even the slightest temptation. Of course, there are many women who are not shaken. In any case, the fact that the reed is easily swayed by the wind means that the mind moves easily here and there without a firm steadfastness.
There are many reeds in the wilderness of Israel. In introducing John the Baptist, Jesus acknowledges his strength by comparing him to a reed that is easily shaken by the wind. Verse 24 says, “Jesus said to the crowds about John, What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?” These words mean that John the Baptist's heart and his work were not like a reed swaying in the wind.
The ministry of John the Baptist is truly bold. Even in his boldness, he does not waver. There is consistency. there was stubbornness He boldly pointed out the problem of sin that hinders salvation, saying to everyone, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” without noticing people. It was delivered with the same language and emotion to the poor, the rich, the weak, and the strong.
John the Baptist, who stubbornly did his work without ever compromising on the truth, was imprisoned by the powerful at the time. But even in prison, he did not compromise. His heart never wavered. Eventually, he was martyred by the neck.
We compromise with the world too easily. We give up the truth easily and choose the folly of choosing the world. There is absolutely no compromise with anything about the truth of Jesus Christ or salvation.
2. The humble forerunner (v. 25)
Harland Sanders, who lived in Kentucky, USA, decided to take on a new challenge at the age of 65. A check for $105 in his pocket and a junk car were all his fortune, but he didn't think his life could end like this. Founding that his only talent was cooking chicken, he dressed in a white suit, grabbed a chicken recipe and a bucket of seasonings, and set out to find restaurant owners. The franchise business that began in that way was Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC).
He was able to build the KFC kingdom by traveling 200,000 miles around the world until he died at the age of 90. He recalls that he was a very proud person when he was young. However, as the economy suffered in the United States, the business shrank and the restaurant it operated was burned down. When he lost his son, his only hope, and his wife left him, he suffered a kind of mental panic. After his sixtieth birthday, he has fallen into a humble state, and one day he sits in front of the chapel and listens to the sound of a woman singing a song. “Don’t worry about your worries. Lord will keep you dwell under the wings of the Lord, and the Lord will keep you It was hymn 432. Hearing this hymn, he shed tears of repentance. He repents of his past days of being proud and decides to humble himself. Then he picks up the spice jar and stands up again. This was the event that led to his recovery at the age of 65. As he humbled himself, God began to exalt him.
When John the Baptist began the work of a pioneer, many came to him to be baptized, and not a few of them came as disciples. One day a disciple asked. “Teacher, the one you testified of baptized separately. But all those who came to the teacher went to him and were baptized.”
At this time, John the Baptist said, “I am not the Christ. I am the one who was sent to prepare for the coming of Christ.” He was humble while clearly differentiating his position from Christ. And he rejoiced that it was filled with great joy for him that Christ began his full-fledged work. His humility is well expressed in the following words:
*John 3:30 => “He must increase, I must decrease.”
Pride is the shortcut to destruction and the biggest obstacle to fall, but humility is the guarantee of success and victory recognized before God.
3. The missionary forerunner (verse 27)
John the Baptist makes it clear that he is a missionary sent before Jesus Christ. He said in John 3:28, “I have spoken, I am not the Christ, but was sent before him.”
Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. As she said, she was able to live a great life as a servant of love even after giving up everything such as wealth, honor, status, and academic background. and to do our best for that mission.”
Christians should clearly understand why they are living in the world now.
God never sent us to this earth. The reason He sent us and called us is that we have a clear mission for us. You have to understand and find out what that mission is. must fulfill that mission.
Parents don't just become. Because when we become parents, we have a clear mission. Parents have a parental mission.
A father was caught driving under the influence of alcohol. The alcohol concentration was 0.120. A value of 0.1 or more corresponds to license revocation, so this is of course a license revocation. However, my father strongly objected, saying the breathalyzer was malfunctioning. Then he asked the boy next to him to blow. When the child blew, it went over 0.300. The police thought it was a machine failure and just let it go. Here's what my son is saying. “Dad, can I drink like this?”
What mission do parents have? Parents should have the mission of being a pioneer for the right future of their children. Parents should not take the initiative to block or hinder their children's future.
Like John the Baptist who prepared for the coming of Jesus Christ, we must be the pioneers of this age. No, I have already entered the path of a pioneer. It is a forerunner who introduces Jesus Christ, the only Savior of mankind, and a forerunner who prepares for Jesus to come again.
In this age and region where fake Christians, false saints, and children of God who wear masks are reigning, I and we all become true pioneers, and through us, the church becomes the church, the saints become saints, and the true glory of God is revealed. do.