Scripture to Read: John 3:25–28
As God used John the Baptist to proclaim Christ’s arrival, as we saw in yesterday’s devotion, there was still some confusion about who John the Baptist was and who Jesus was. We read today in John 3:26–28, “And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, He is baptizing and all are coming to Him.” 27 John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’” The Jews and some of John the Baptist’s disciples were worried about who had the authority to baptize. Remember, back in John 2:18, the Jews even asked Jesus for a sign to show them what authority He had to do what He was doing. However, John the Baptist reminded the Jews that every good gift and all authority comes from God in heaven. God even tells us this in James 1:17, “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.” John the Baptist also repeated to the Jews and his disciples that he was not Christ but was sent to prepare His way. John the Baptist continually pointed the Jews back to Jesus because he knew that Jesus was the Christ. We’ve been given the same responsibility to lead people to Christ so they can follow Him like us.
Challenge & Application
• Why did John the Baptist keep pointing the Jews and his disciples back to Jesus?
• Why is it critical that we lead others to Christ and then teach them how to walk daily with Him?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!