John 1:8 (ESV)
He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
It would be a great study to find out how many teachers, preachers and/or ministers of the Christian faith actually believe what John the Baptist said in the above verse. If anyone had a right to claim fame and fortune it would be John the Baptist. Note what Jesus said about him:
Matthew 11:11 (ESV)
Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
He even declared him the coming of Elijah:
Matthew 17:12-13 (ESV)
But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.
Too many people in church leadership act like they are the light. Notice what John the Baptist would further say to keep himself in this right state of mind about himself and his ministry:
John 1:15 (ESV)
(John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”)
John 1:20 (ESV)
He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”
He knew he was just a voice:
John 1:23 (ESV)
He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
He knew he was not even worthy to untie Jesus sandals:
John 1:26-27 (ESV)
John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”
He knew that it was Jesus who came to take away the sin of the world, not him:
John 1:29 (ESV)
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
The next time a Bible teacher, Church pastor, or anyone who leads the church and ministers in the gospel puffs out their chest in pride, point them to John the Baptist. Tell them to see that John is the perfect picture about how to characterize their ministry and how to think of themselves. They are NOT THE CHRIST.
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