June 5
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TESTIFYING TO THE SON OF GOD
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ 31 I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.” 32 John testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. 33 I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.” 35 Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” – John 1:29-36
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Luke 1:57-80 gives an account of the whole story of John, the Baptist, a relative of Jesus. Luke 1:80 says that John, the child became strong in the spirit and lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel. His life centered on waiting for Jesus’ coming. In Matthew 11:11, John was declared as the greatest man who had ever lived.
While John was baptizing by the river, Jesus came and immediately acknowledges Jesus as the Lamb of God, the one who is above and before him. John declares right away as he remembered the revelation given to him by the Holy Spirit. It was revealed to him that he will recognize the Messiah for the Spirit will descend upon him. As he was baptizing others, Jesus came to the river and John witnessed with his own eyes, the Son of God who was promised long ago by prophets before him.
Interestingly, John was born six months before Jesus in the account in Luke 1:39-45 as Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth, John’s mother. Even in his mother’s womb, John leaped as he heard of Jesus’ conception in Mary’s womb. He was the precursor of Jesus and all his life was focused on preparing for the Lamb of God. He acknowledges a Man who ranked higher than himself and who pre-existed him though he was born before him. John declares the divinity of Jesus and his life came about to be the evidence of Jesus coming down as human to save mankind. John was in God’s plan to bring people to repent of their sins and be saved by Jesus.
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REFLECTION
• Have you witnessed Jesus’ divinity in your own life? Did you testify for Christ?