The Messenger of the Gospel: His Spiritual Fitness

 

Dr. Alexander Kurian   

 

Lessons From the Life and Ministry of John the Baptist

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1. The story of Jesus Christ begins with the story of John the Baptist. He is in the front of our New Testament four times, once in each of the four Gospels (Matt.3; Mk.1; Luke 1, 3; John 1). John sought to identify himself with Jesus, and Jesus surely sought to identify with John and his message. John had no worldly credentials. But no greater compliment could be paid to John than the assessment of our Lord. Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist(Matt.11:11a).

   • The relationship between the Master and the Messenger is crucial.

2. John was chosen by God and sent by God (Jn.1:6-8). The WORD was; John came. The Word was the light; John was sent from God as a witness to this Light. John was a witness, and the Lord Jesus was the one about whom John testified (Jn.1:15, 19). The Gospel of John speaks of John the Baptist, not as a Baptizer, but as a witness. His testimony was faithful and powerful. Through his testimony, he introduced his own disciples to Christ (Jn.1:35-37). In his ministry of witnessing, he was also a builder of relationships.

   • The Messenger of the Gospel is called, chosen and appointed by God.

   • The Messenger is first and foremost a witness of the Savior.

   • The Messenger points people to the Savior and helps them to build that eternal relationship with Him.

3. John was not concerned about the official recognition of his ministry and message by the religious leaders (Jn.1:19-23). The authorization and accreditation by the religious apparatus in Jerusalem did not determine the ministry of John. Since John was operating under higher orders, the interrogation of the delegation did not intimidate him.

   • The messenger operates under divine authority and does not crave for the world’s recognition.

4. John was a man who virtually refused to dwell on himself. He did not agonize to be prominent in any way. When the delegation from Jerusalem pressed him to tell them who he was, he persistently answered in the negative. He was not the Messiah, not Elijah, not the prophet (Jn.1:19-22). The longer response of John to the enquiry of the delegation is a quotation from Isaiah 40:3. He avoids drawing attention to himself or even talking about himself. His attitude toward the three most frequent priorities of man -popularity, prosperity, position  is amazing!

   • The Messenger of the Gospel should serve as a model of true humility and servanthood. He rejoices in exalting the Savior, in proclaiming the Word of God and does not seek to further his own interests (Phil.2:19-22). The interrelationship with the man and the message is important. John had a message. But more than that, the message had him. The message has to take hold of the messenger and only then will it have an impact.

5. John the Baptist boldly proclaims the truth of the Gospel. His humility did not prevent him from preaching with boldness (Matt.3:5-12). John did not water down his message to please his audience.

   • The Messenger of the Gospel should not seek to dilute the truth of God’s Word as he proclaims it to men (1 Cori.2:1-5; 2 Cori.2:17; 4:1-6; 2 Tim.4:1-5).

6. The message of John the Baptist was clear, forthright and well-defined (sin, repentance, confession, faith, Messiah, kingdom, judgment).

   • The Messenger must know his message thoroughly and present it with conviction and clarity. He should not fall into the trap of accentuating the positive and eliminating the negative. The Gospel begins with the negative – the problem of sin.

7. John is an example of a man of faith. He believed in what God had promised rather than in what he could see. He suffered for his faith. In his public ministry, he is speaking about a person (the Messiah) whose identity he does not know for certain. The Messiah is going to come, who is even then present, but not identified, and he trusts that God will reveal Him at the right time (Jn.1:29-34).

   • The Messenger of the Gospel is called to live and minister in faith (Heb.11; 2 Cori.4:16-18; 5:7).

8. John teaches us a whole lot about true spirituality. Though John was a mighty man of God, a great prophet, he did not perform any miracle. His spirituality was not evidenced by unusual phenomenon, by signs and wonders and healings (Jn.10:41).

   • The Messenger’s spirituality must be evidenced by his faith, his integrity, his humility and his message. He should not look for sensationalism as proof of piety.

9. There was a sense of urgency in John’s mission (Matt.3). The Messiah is coming. Turn around to Him. There will be a day of reckoning. The great visitation was about to take place.

   • The messenger must know the times in which he lives and must recognize the urgency and seriousness of the Great Commission. There is a timeline to fulfill his mission. The deadline is here; time is running out.

10. In his life, ministry, message and method, John always exalts the Messiah, keeping the spotlight on Him. John’s passion was to glorify Christ. He must increase, but I must decrease (Jn.3:30). John the Baptist recognized the subordinate and temporary character of his own mission.

    • The Messenger of the gospel must keep the focus on Christ and Him alone. The ultimate aim of his ministry should be to glorify Christ.

11. John’s ministry had a long-lasting impact and effect upon the church. Peter used the words of John at the house of Cornelius (Acts 10:37; see also 11:16). Paul included the message and ministry of John in his sermon in Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:24). Apollos knew only the Baptism of John (18:25). When Paul reached Ephesus, he saw the disciples of John (Acts 19:1, 3).

    • God honors His Messengers with the fruit of their labor.

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We, the messengers of the Gospel, should become more like John the Baptist, living obediently and expectantly, proclaiming to men that Jesus is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world and urging them to repent of their sins, knowing that a day of judgment is coming.

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