March 23, 2023
Participating in the Mission
“You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth. But the testimony which I receive is not from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was the lamp that was burning and was shining and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.” John 5:33-35 (NASB)
Many times, we don’t like change. When we we used to do things for long periods of time and something new comes along, we don’t like to make the necessary adjustments. We sometimes even rebel against change. For instance, churches who hire a new pastor have expectations of what that pastor should be, say, or do. It is because the church is used to the “way we used to do things.” Those things were comfortable. They were things the old person used to do that others grew to expect as normal. In these passages, Jesus is giving testimony to the Jews of John the Baptist’s mission. John’s mission was for Jesus’ message and His saving power.
When Jesus spoke, He said to the Jews “You have sent John.” John was trusted by the Sanhedrin with the message of the coming Messiah (see John 1:19). John had many followers and they got used to his ways and what he did, or said. John shared the message of the coming Messiah; Jesus wasn’t the One the Jews thought He should have been. Jesus said one had come, it was “John, and he has testified to the truth.” Truth had a name. Truth’s name is Jesus. Now it was time to follow. Jesus said I am referring to “he,” (John) merely to aid in your salvation. H. D. Spence says, “The function of the prophet is to bear witness to the Light, to strip off the veils which hide it, to call attention to its most solemn realities, to quicken vision, to stimulate conscience, to disturb apathy, to discern the coming and prepare the way of the Lord (see chapter 1:4, 5, notes). He was not the Light; but he did call attention to a testimony immeasurably more precious than any word proceeding merely from human lips.”[1] Messiah had come and the Message was not from mankind, but from God Himself. John could only testify to the One coming. He couldn’t speak as Messiah. Only God can speak for Himself.
The message of hope you and I carry each day of Christ is just that, the message. We are messengers or testifiers, just like John. Our calling is just as important as John’s. We are the ones calling those to hear the words of Jesus. We don’t save souls, that’s God’s business. God provides a plan for men who come from death to eternal life with Him. The Holy Spirit quickens those who hear His message of hope through the conviction of sin. Jesus does the work by giving His life for us. By Jesus’ death we are raised to new life through His resurrection power. We become participants in God’s plan for mankind, but only God can speak to our need for salvation.
As you consider God’s plan for mankind today, would you recognize your part in the Gospel message? Do you take it as serious daily as John the Baptist does? I know most of us would say, “No, I wouldn’t put on clothes made out of goat hair and stand preaching repentance in the streets.” If I am honest, neither would I. I can however, recognize the seriousness of the high calling of Jesus Christ, recognizing my small part in the great plan of God for mankind. Then I won’t have an attitude of resistance when change comes. I’ll be part of an exciting plan!
[1] H. D. M. Spence-Jones, ed., St. John, vol. 1, The Pulpit Commentary (London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1909), 219.