Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. John, who would be called
John the Baptizer, that is a Baptist or a Mercer, was quite an odd
fellow by the standards of that day, let alone by our own standards
today. He was a Nazarite who was filled
with the Holy Ghost in his mother's womb. Mary was overshadowed by
the Lord and made to be with the Holy Child, Jesus, about
six months after John's conception. We see the evidence of the indwelling
of the Spirit in John when Mary visited Elizabeth and he leapt
in her womb, perceiving the presence of him whose name is above every
name. Isaiah identified John as the
voice of one crying in the wilderness. Being the last of the Old Testament
prophets, he could only see the purpose for which Christ came
into the world through very dim eyes, even though he could see
more clearly than any who had gone before. Thus we see him
crying in the wilderness. Now surely this world is a wilderness
to all of those whose citizenship is in another country, which
is not made with hands. Yet he could only behold Christ,
even as Moses could only view the promised land that is from
afar. He was given the knowledge that
he was the lamb that taketh away the sin of the world. He could
recognize his place of honor in the kingdom of God. And he
had some understanding of the power of Christ to bestow his
spirit upon his disciples, baptizing them with fire. Yet he was not
allowed to see the complete work of Christ in dying for sinners
and then rising again from the dead as the first fruits of them
that sleep. He could not fully grasp the
spiritual nature of Christ's kingdom, since he sent men from
prison to inquire of him when he would restore the kingdom
to Israel. Thus the Lord said of him, for I say unto you, among
those that are born of women, there is not a greater prophet
than John the Baptist, but he that is least in the kingdom
of God is greater than he. What a privilege is bestowed
upon those who have been given eyes to see the finished substitutionary
work of Christ in the behalf of those whom he has loved with
an everlasting love. We should not be amazed at the
lack of understanding which John had, especially when we think
of the fact that his disciples, who accompanied with him from
the beginning of his ministry, actually missed the point of
his coming. as they asked the same question on the eve of his
ascension. All things are delivered unto
me of my father, and no man knoweth the son but the father. Neither
knoweth any man the father save the son, and he to whomsoever
the son will reveal him. Yet with all of his limitations
and odd habits, John alone is that messenger sent by the father
to herald the advent of Christ to the world. In the very first
verse of Isaiah 40, the Lord commands, Comfort ye, comfort
ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem,
and cry unto her that her warfare is accomplished, and her iniquity
is pardoned. Thus John bears witness of the
gospel in the clearest of terms when he told his own disciples,
Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is a message of certainty.
He bore witness that what He came to do, He would most certainly
accomplish. There is no greater word of comfort
which can be given to the children of God than the declaration that
He has obtained eternal redemption for them. He has not attempted
to do it, awaiting their cooperation to make it certain, but by His
own blood He has purchased their redemption, and they are His
possession. My sheep hear my voice, and I
know them, and they follow me. And I give unto them eternal
life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them
out of my hand. This voice crying in the wilderness
said, Prepare ye the way of the Lord. This word prepare literally
means turn to face or behold and is often translated from
the Hebrew as turn or look upon. But we all with open face beholding
as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same
image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Because of the work of Christ, we fear no condemnation. Thus
we preach with John, for men to look unto Christ and be saved,
ye ends of the earth. The way of the Lord is a straight
way, a pleasant or prosperous way. This way, being Christ,
levels hills, straightens curves, and smooths the path for those
who are sojourners through this land of sin and sorrow. He is
our peace who has broken down the walls of separation between
us and the riches of his kingdom. Nor height, nor depth, nor any
other creature shall be able to separate us from the love
of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. The Lord's sovereign
mercy is His glory, even as He told Moses, I will have mercy
on whom I will have mercy. Have you beheld His glory? For
a free CD containing 15 of these radio broadcasts, send an email
to forthepoor at windstream.net.