The Gospel of John: John 1.29-34

Read and meditate on John 1.30.
Imagine how John must have felt at this moment. He had been baptizing people as the forerunner of the Lord, to make ready the way of His coming. His entire adult life was devoted to anticipating the coming of Christ. And now, here He was!

             ³⁰“Yes, this is He, this is the One
of Whom I said, ‘One after me will come
Who is preferred before me, for He was
before me.’”

- John 1.30

Reflect
1.  Jesus walks toward John, whose eyes are suddenly opened to know Him for Who He is. John says, excitedly, “Look!” And he directs attention away from himself as he explains to people what they are seeing. How should we do this in our own witness to the Lord? Complete this prayer: Lord, today help me to prepare the way for You into my Personal Mission Field. Let me…

2.  John emphasizes that Jesus is to be preferred before him because He was “first of me” as the Greek has it literally. John, we recall, was six months older than Jesus. What is John acknowledging about Jesus by saying this? How might you express this as part of your witness to Jesus? Lord Jesus, First in my life, be First in me today by…

3.  John emphasizes that Jesus is a Man. By the time the apostle John was writing this, a sect had arisen, claiming to be Christian, which denied the incarnation of Jesus, saying that Jesus was not really a Man but merely a kind of phantom (see how John attacks this view in 1 John 1.1-3). Is it important that we hold firm to the fact that Jesus was a Man Who lived in history? Why? Lord, because You were a true human being, just as I am…

4.  The word preferred is implied in John’s comments. This word doesn’t actually occur, but this is clearly the meaning of what John actually said (“He has become before me, because He was before me in time”). Why were people coming to John? What did he mean by saying they should prefer Jesus to him? Why? Lord, I want to “prefer” You to everything else in my life today, and that means…

5.  John the Baptist was a remarkable man – austere, bold, generous, and holy. But he would not allow himself to be the focus of people’s attention once Jesus arrived. John pointed people to Jesus, and we should both look to Jesus and point others to Him as well. What does looking to Jesus – preferring Him – mean for you today? Whom can you point to Jesus today? How will you do that? Bring together into one prayer the prayers you wrote from questions 1-4.

Summary
“O, the message of the Baptist, and the mystery in it!
He calls the shepherd lamb, and not only a lamb, but one to free from mistakes.
He showed the lawless that the goat which they sent into the desert was ineffective.
‘Lo,’ he said, ‘the lamb; there is no longer need of the goat;
Put your hands on him,
All of you who confess your sins,
For He has come to take them away, those of the people, and of the whole world.
For lo, the One whom the Father has sent to us is the One who carries away evil,
Who appeared and illumined all things.’” Romanus Melodus (fl. ca. 536-556 AD)

John did not delay to turn the attention of the crowds away from himself to Jesus. He knew his work was merely preparatory, and that Jesus as the Real Deal. John could only help people to get ready for Jesus, by leading them to face up to their sins and admit their need for salvation. This is all we can do as well. Like John, we need to point people to Jesus. How will you try to prepare the way to Jesus for someone today?

Closing Prayer
Now therefore, be wise, O kings;
Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear,
And rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son, lest He be angry,
And you perish in the way,
When His wrath is kindled but a little.
Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

Psalm 2.10-12

Psalm 2.9-12 (Agincourt: O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High!)
To Christ, the Lord, be given all
Who humbly embrace Him and on Him call.
Be wise, be warned: His judgment comes
To break the prideful, sinful ones.

Rejoice with fear in Jesus’ grace,
And worship before His exalted face!
Beware His anger and judgment grim:
How blessed are all who rest in Him!

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.