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Recalled: Giving Glory to God

Written by Stefan Johnsson

The Word

⁷And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.
Mark 1:7 (ESV)

²⁸You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’
³⁰He must increase, but I must decrease.”
John 3:28,30 (ESV)

Reflection

John the Baptist had a great upbringing. His father was a priest and was given a sign by God that his wife would have a son at an old age and he would be mute until his birth(paraphrasing this story significantly, read Luke Ch 1). In essence, John was born with people knowing he was a prophet sent by God and he was groomed for ministry until his time came. Nobody questioned who he was or that he’d been sent by God.

Jesus, on the other hand, was born out of wedlock(few recognized the virgin birth at that time), and in a manger with animals by poor parents. He had nothing going for him and people would refer to Him as the son of Mary and Joseph (John 6:42). Nobody(except His closest disciples) recognized Him as the son of God, much less a prophet in His own right, compared to the likes of John the Baptist.

Yet, John the Baptist knew who Jesus was and who he was. His was a ministry to open the way for Jesus, and that is why he never tried to take the spotlight away from him. Instead, he encouraged others to follow Jesus.

Many say Stephen was the first Christian martyr, but I would argue that John the Baptist was the first.

Application

Are you living such a life that you are giving glory to God in what you do? Do you live with a vision of becoming less significant while making God more? A lot changes in our boldness to witness to others when we realize that it isn’t about us, but about what God did for us.

Live with such a conviction that John the Baptist did and put God first. This is how you can begin to engage the society around you.

Prayer

Father in heaven, help me to glory Your name on this earth and not my own. Let Your light shine through me. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.

Stefan Johnsson

March 15, 2022

Devotion

conviction, glory, God, john 3, john 6, john the baptist, luke 1, mark 1, Sermon Series Recalled, Stefan Johnsson

7 responses to “Recalled: Giving Glory to God”

dmclarke16

March 16, 2022 at 2:07 am

Was John the Baptist still in faith prior to his execution?

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1. kitplane
  
  March 16, 2022 at 6:06 am
  
  I’m not sure of how to answer this. There’s no indication that John turned his back on Jesus or denounced any of his teachings.
  
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2. Stefan Johnsson
  
  March 16, 2022 at 8:55 pm
  
  When John the Baptist was close to dying and in jail, he asked his disciples to verify who Jesus was (Luke 7:22). I would not take this as losing his faith. He may have had doubts in a moment of weakness because his death was imminent, but asking for confirmation does not mean he had lost faith. That would be my thought on it. Great question.
  
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  1. dmclarke16
    
    March 16, 2022 at 9:45 pm
    
    Actually, this situation shows how John the Baptist, who kmew his purpose, recognized Christ when he arrived to be baptized, maybe heard and saw what happened when Jesus was baptized; this amazing man questioned what he knew and saw when he was about to be killed.
    
    This scenario shows how being filled with the Holy Spirit is so empowering. Being filled helps override the fleshly desire to fear and question. I see those in the war zone who are choosing to stay and help. That is the power that only the Holy Spirit can provide. This is how I see it.
    
    Thank you for your insight and inspirational teaching.
    
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  2. Stefan Johnsson
    
    March 17, 2022 at 9:09 am
    
    Keep in mind that every prophet of God was filled with the Holy Spirit to do their ministry. Great comments and thank you for sharing your thoughts!
    
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kitplane

March 16, 2022 at 6:03 am

In the Jewish tradition at the time Mary and Joseph were married, else Joseph would not have considered devolving Marry. I once the bride accepts the marriage contract, the couple are married. However, they are to wait until the marriage feast, which happens once the husband has completed the marriage house and the wife has completed her training.

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1. Stefan Johnsson
  
  March 16, 2022 at 8:48 pm
  
  Good comment Paul. I took it from how it was written in Luke 2:5 where it says in the NIV that they were “pledged” to marry, which i would take as similar to being “engaged.” It was going to happen and families were planning for it. Though, on the other hand, Matthew 1:19 says that he was planning to “divorce” her quietly. So it may mean more than what I described. Either way, my main point in this was that the marriage wasn’t “consummated” yet.
  
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