While the Prologue of John's gospel contains the first testimony about Jesus, the first one to be spoken by one those who shared the stage with Jesus comes from the mouth of John the Baptist. Within the John the Baptist narrative of the first chapter are the words of the Baptizer, "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." A little later in the text comes a word from the Baptizer which tells us something about him and something about Jesus. "And John said, 'I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on Him'....the One who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' " (John 1:29-33)
These final verses tell us that Jesus is the One who baptizes with the Spirit, but it also opens up a window for us to see inside the spiritual life of John the Baptist. John is not only one who has been sent by God for a specific task, but he is also one who has the kind of relationship with God which has made room for listening, hearing, and expecting. When he saw the Spirit coming upon Jesus, it was something he had already seen. He was not surprised. He was living in expectation that the day would come when the vision of his personal life would become reality.
Most of us do not have expectations like the Baptizer. Is it because John the Baptist was special? Some might say such is true, and perhaps, it is true that he was one called to a special role as the proclaimer that the Lamb of God had come. But, it is equally as true that John had grown within him an awareness of God that enabled him to hear the voice of God. He sensed this so powerfully that he was looking for the things God had told him to expect in his life. Too many of leave our personal moments with God with no expectations, but as John's life tells us, it does not have to be this way.
These final verses tell us that Jesus is the One who baptizes with the Spirit, but it also opens up a window for us to see inside the spiritual life of John the Baptist. John is not only one who has been sent by God for a specific task, but he is also one who has the kind of relationship with God which has made room for listening, hearing, and expecting. When he saw the Spirit coming upon Jesus, it was something he had already seen. He was not surprised. He was living in expectation that the day would come when the vision of his personal life would become reality.
Most of us do not have expectations like the Baptizer. Is it because John the Baptist was special? Some might say such is true, and perhaps, it is true that he was one called to a special role as the proclaimer that the Lamb of God had come. But, it is equally as true that John had grown within him an awareness of God that enabled him to hear the voice of God. He sensed this so powerfully that he was looking for the things God had told him to expect in his life. Too many of leave our personal moments with God with no expectations, but as John's life tells us, it does not have to be this way.
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