Title: The Humility of Christ
Contents
From now on, the Apostle John begins to speak of Christ's earthly ministry, starting with the ministry of John the Baptist, like other evangelists. What was his ministry like?
1. John the Baptist was the one who prepared the way for Jesus.
John the Baptist was already prophesied in the Old Testament. It appears with a great mission to come before Jesus Christ and worship the way of Jesus Christ.
Those sent to the Jews in Jerusalem ask John the Baptist. “Who are you?”
“Are you Elijah?” “Are you the prophet?”
But John the Baptist denied all these things. And speaking of himself, as the prophet Isaiah said (Isaiah 40:3), “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord.” And he goes on to say that he is not worthy to untie the Messiah's shoes.
2. You can see the humility of John the Baptist.
What is Humility? He humbles himself and exalts others.
However, when the Bible speaks of humility, it always presupposes that one realizes that he is a sinner. In other words, it is self-denial. is a denial is not trusting
So, in today's verse, John the Baptist first denies himself.
(verse 20) I am not the Christ, (verse 21b) I am not Elijah, and (verse 21b) I am not the prophet. That is, instead of looking at yourself as a slave, look to Jesus Christ, the master who is standing behind you. The self must be humbled and the Lord must be exalted. This is humility.
3. What kind of humility should we have?
The Lord explained the purpose of coming to this earth. An essential part of the flow of the Gospel of John is the humility of Jesus. Jesus' humility was to completely empty himself and fulfill the will of God.
What kind of humility should be shown to the saints who call themselves disciples of Jesus today?
The proof that Christ's humility has come into us and has become my humility is that it is humility toward our neighbors.
Just as Jesus forsook his claim on the cross and sought God's will, so our own desires must die and become to do God's holy will.
Ladies and gentlemen, today the Lord is able to give us the humility that John the Baptist had. So let us pray for this humility.