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October 5th

The bible reading today is in Matthew 4 and Luke 4-5 and John 1:15.

Let’s hear from the apostle John...“John the Baptist bore witness about Jesus, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me."

‭‭John‬ ‭1:15‬

John’s office and business was to bear witness, not of himself but of Jesus in all of His remarkable person and His powerful work from heaven to earth.

“A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:3‬

Isaiah prophesied about the work of the Baptist. He would “cry out” as a witness to Christ. He wouldn't whisper, he wouldn't speak softly, he wouldn't speak timidly, he would speak clearly, openly, and publicly of Jesus the Messiah.

John would speak with vigor, conviction, and confidence. His was a cry of fervency that exalted the Savior God, the Messiah Jesus Christ.

Back to the text...“For from Christ’s fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.”

‭‭John‬ ‭1:16‬

Earlier in John chapter 1, we read that Jesus was full of grace and truth. The Holy Spirit lets us know that Jesus was in and of Himself sufficient in grace and truth for his office and ministry as Messiah.

He had enough power and He had enough freedom to fulfill His redemptive purposes on earth. Therefore, if there should be any wonder in our minds about the measure of His ability to accomplish heaven’s plans for the salvation of the elect, being full (not half full but full) of the glorious grace and truth of the Godhead. That should erase any doubt.

And from Christ’s fulness, all disciples of Jesus receive grace upon grace. In other words, friends, on top of the grace given to us for repentance and faith for our eternal justification, Jesus gives us “more grace” every day for all of our struggles and challenges of living the “disciple / Christ life” before heaven. That’s awesome.

That grace today keeps me from giving up after sinning. It is also grace that helps me to say no to sinning. I'm saved by grace. And you and I are a work in progress by the gift of His grace. Another awesome!

To the text...“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

‭‭John‬ ‭1:17‬

God appointed each of His laws. He appointed Moses to be the “giver” of those Laws. The Law pointed out the pollution of human nature and the guilt and punishment of sin. The law was a type and shadow of deliverance by the Christ. But the Law could not give the grace it shadowed.

It was a great honor bestowed upon Moses by God to be the Lawgiver.

But Jesus was and is still greater...because He gave Grace for eternal life and Truth that sets believers free...free from sin and death...free with power to live the life that they have been saved to. That’s Jesus!

No wonder the Baptizer said what he said next...“The next day John the Baptizer saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! I myself did not know him, but for this purpose, I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.”

‭‭John‬ ‭1:29, 31‬

Jesus the Savior and John His witness...that was then...now “we” are the witnesses of the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world.

Have a great day.