Yesterday's Bible Study |
When the disciples of John the Baptist tell him that Jesus has been baptizing other followers, John's response is that he is rejoicing at His coming. Using the metaphor of a wedding party, John lets his disciples know that Jesus is the Messiah -- the bridegroom prophesied about in Psalm 45 -- that they had long awaited.
The church is the bride of Christ, who is the bridegroom, and John the Baptist is the friend of Christ. Think about the role of the best man at a wedding. He usually has been friends with the groom for a long time, even while the couple was courting, and at the wedding will probably give a speech. He rejoices in the couple getting together. In a similar way, John had prepared the way for Jesus, and now that the time has come for Jesus to begin His ministry, His joy is fulfilled.
John the Baptist's ministry was never about himself. If that were the case, he would not have been happy that Jesus's ministry was beginning. It was now time for John's ministry to come to an end, and he directed his followers to follow Jesus instead. While he was once the leader of a movement, Jesus's arrival on the ministry scene meant that John was going to be a follower again … and he accepted the role gladly.
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When the disciples of John the Baptist tell him that Jesus has been baptizing other followers, John's response is that he is rejoicing at His coming. Using the metaphor of a wedding party, John lets his disciples know that Jesus is the Messiah -- the bridegroom prophesied about in Psalm 45 -- that they had long awaited.
The church is the bride of Christ, who is the bridegroom, and John the Baptist is the friend of Christ. Think about the role of the best man at a wedding. He usually has been friends with the groom for a long time, even while the couple was courting, and at the wedding will probably give a speech. He rejoices in the couple getting together. In a similar way, John had prepared the way for Jesus, and now that the time has come for Jesus to begin His ministry, His joy is fulfilled.
John the Baptist's ministry was never about himself. If that were the case, he would not have been happy that Jesus's ministry was beginning. It was now time for John's ministry to come to an end, and he directed his followers to follow Jesus instead. While he was once the leader of a movement, Jesus's arrival on the ministry scene meant that John was going to be a follower again … and he accepted the role gladly.
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