Witness About Christ

KEY VERSE: “I [John] indeed have baptized you with water: but he [Jesus] shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” —Mark 1:8

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Mark 1:4-11, 14, 15; Luke 7:18-23

MOST CHRISTIAN PEOPLE are well acquainted with the short ministry of John the Baptist, who immersed Jesus in the Jordan River and prepared the way for the more widespread ministry of our Lord. (Matt. 3:3) What a grand privilege was John’s to have participated in that work, and to have witnessed the Holy Spirit descending upon the Lord Jesus, and to have heard the voice from heaven proclaiming him to be the beloved Son of God in whom the Father was well pleased.—vs. 17

Jesus was the “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) This was true not only in connection with his disciples and others in the Early Church, but will also be true in its full accomplishment during the future kingdom of righteousness when it is established in the earth.

The Prophet Joel points to the time when God’s Spirit will be given to the whole world of mankind. He says: “It shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.” (Joel 2:28) What a marvelous picture of the time when all people will be blessed by God’s Spirit.

Joel also points to the present Gospel Age when the footstep followers of Jesus receive the Holy Spirit to enable them to walk in “newness of life,” (Rom 6:4) He says: “Upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit.” (Joel 2:29) It is only after the Spirit has fulfilled its purpose in the lives of the faithful “bride” (Rev. 21:9) class that is presently being selected from the world that the Spirit will be poured upon all flesh.

The Apostle Paul tells us that “the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.” (Rom. 8:19) The whole human family is waiting for the completion of the ‘bride’ of Christ and the blessings associated with the kingdom to follow. Paul continues: “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit.”—vss.22,23

Luke notes that Jesus performed many wonderful miracles during his earthly ministry. John the Baptist was in prison when he sent two of his disciples to ask Jesus if he was the one promised to come, or should they look for another. The Scriptures say: “In that same hour he [Jesus] cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight. Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, [and] to the poor the Gospel is preached.”—Luke 7:21,22

The blessings associated with these miracles foreshadowed the greater joys to come in the kingdom when the powerful lessons of our Lord Jesus’ earthly ministry will become a reality for all mankind. Then they will have the opportunity to gain perfect and everlasting life.

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