A Witness to the Living Word

MEMORY SELECTION: “I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.” —John 1:34

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: John 1:19-34

PROPHETS of old were often used by the Heavenly Father to foretell the coming of Messiah—including events in connection with his humble birth of a virgin, his being led as a lamb to the slaughter, his crucifixion, his resurrection from the dead, and his ultimate triumph to a position at the right hand of the Most High God.

John the Baptist, however, was given the unique and very special task of directly announcing to the world that the Son of God, the Messiah, the perfect man Christ Jesus had indeed arrived. And what a great event it was to announce that the Savior of the world had come. “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”—John 1:29

Respecting God’s servant and the one selected to herald the good news, our Lord declared of his forerunner, “Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist.” (Matt. 11:11) Yet when we note the entire verse, we catch the full importance of our Lord’s statement: “notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he [John the Baptist].”

Not only was our Lord Jesus the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world—to be testified in due time—but he also opened the way for the selection of his bride members, who would be given the opportunity to share his spiritual kingdom and receive the heavenly inheritance. In the Father’s providence there are to be 144,000 members of that class who will be associated with the Lord and receive glory, honor, and immortality.

As the forerunner of Christ Jesus, John the Baptist belonged to the previous age. His work was finished before the invitation was extended to the followers of our Lord. John will, in turn, receive a different reward for his faithfulness. He will be of the earthly ruling class, one of the princes of the earth in the new kingdom order.—Ps. 45:16

Those who recognize the greater blessing of the spiritual kingdom that is still being extended for the duration of the Gospel Age are given an opportunity for dedication to God by way of consecration. They rejoice in the vital relationship with the Master, and if faithful to their covenant they will receive the spiritual inheritance as promised.

As it was John the Baptist’s honor to proclaim the arrival of the Lord Jesus in the flesh, even so it is our privilege to proclaim the second presence of the Son of man and his glorious reign soon to be inaugurated for the blessing of all the families of the earth.

The religious leaders in Israel were very much interested in learning who John was and what the nature of his ministry was. This is evidenced in their inquiry, “when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?”—John 1:19-22

John’s simple answer to the Jews was, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the Prophet Esaias.” (vs. 23) His message to the children of Israel was that the kingdom of heaven is at hand, repent, and get ready for it.

“And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?” (vss. 24,25) The religious leaders of Israel were intent to learn who he was and the nature of his activity.

“John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.” (vss. 26,27) John was honored to announce the presence of Messiah, whom the Jews failed to recognize, and he humbly compared his own insignificance with the greatness and majesty of our Lord Jesus Christ. For “I [John the Baptist] saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.”—John 1:34

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