SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSONS
Commentary by Walter Albritton
December 29
Rugged John the
Baptist, Who Promoted Jesus Rather than Himself
Read Matthew 3; 11:2-19; 14:1-12
Key Verse: Matthew 11:10
Our focus today is on John the Baptist: Messiah’s Forerunner. What do we know about this strange man? Much more than what he wore and what he ate! We should not dismiss John as a wild man who roamed in the wilderness, eating off the land and wearing animal skins for clothes. He was so much more!
His parents believed the promise of God that he was born to serve God. From his birth, they dedicated him to God’s service. As a child, he was nurtured in this faith.
He grew up in the wilderness area
of
When the time came for John to step forward, he was ready. We can celebrate the strength of his will in the words, “In those days came John….” He did not wait for a committee to send him, nor did he wait for his friends to commission him.
John spoke plainly. He called upon
people to repent of their sins. He insisted that the
John was not pretentious. He did
not come meekly before people, hoping they would “like” him and give him a
membership in the local
Bulldozers are used to make highways. God used John like a bulldozer to clear the way for Jesus. John understood that and he backed down from no one, not the cunning Pharisees nor the wicked King Herod Antipas.
John recognized Jesus as “the lamb of God.” I tremble every time I read the words that describe the moment when John said to his disciples, “Look! There is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29). Here surely is one of the most profound moments in history.
Jesus proclaimed the greatness of John. Whatever other people thought about John, he had the commendation of Jesus. Jesus honored him when he described him as even “more than a prophet.”
Commentator Thomas Friskney
observed: “John plows and prepares the soil for Jesus to sow the seed of the
John did not promote himself. What an extraordinary compliment that is to a preacher! Shall I say it again? John did not promote himself! Would to God I might overhear someone say that about me! Every preacher knows how strong is the insidious temptation to build one’s own kingdom rather than tend to the flock of God.
Whenever we are tempted to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think, we do well to remember the words of John:
“He must increase, but I must
decrease” (John
These words should drive us to our knees, where we cry out to God for the humility we must have if we are to serve Christ well.
John was called by God for a tough assignment. He stepped forward and served, refusing to whimper when the going got tough. May we ask God for the courage to do the same as we answer His call for our own special mission in these days. + + +