John 1:1-14
The Word Becomes Flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 4:24
God is Spirit
24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.
John 3:22-36
John the Baptist Testifies About Jesus
22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. 24 (This was before John was put in prison.)25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”
27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30 He must become greater; I must become less.”
31 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33 Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.
Matthew 11:1-19
Jesus and John the Baptist
1 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.
2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:
“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’
11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15 Whoever has ears, let them hear.
16 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
17 “‘We played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not mourn.’
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”
John 3:16-17
Jesus Came to Save the World and Give Us Eternal Life
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 17:3
Now This is Eternal Life
3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
Jesus is the most Noteworthy Man ever to walk the earth...He divinely walked on earth...God, who is Spirit, became physical and walked the earth...And yet, while He was on earth, many did not see Him as such, and would not accept His testimony...To be able to do something like this and just fit in with others, helps me believe He is the Son of God, and gives us eternal life...
John the Baptist was a messenger for Jesus...John the Baptist was written about in the Old Testament...John was a prophet, and an earlier prophet once wrote, "I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You."...John the Baptist was the one who prepared the way for Jesus...John knew who Jesus was, and the importance of Him coming to earth...He testified about Jesus being the Messiah...John knew Jesus was the One that was to come...John the Baptist said this about Jesus, "A person can receive only what is given them from heaven...You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of Him.’...The bride belongs to the Bridegroom...The friend who attends the Bridegroom waits and listens for Him, and is full of joy when he hears the Bridegroom’s voice...That joy is mine, and it is now complete...He must become greater; I must become less."...The One who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth...The One who comes from heaven is above all...He testifies to what He has seen and heard, but no one accepts His testimony...Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful...For the One whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit...The Father LOVES the Son and has placed everything in His hands...Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them."...So John the Baptist knew Jesus was from above, from heaven...John knew He is the Son of God...John knew the importance of this Man, and talks about it in his testimony to his own disciples...John knew the worthiness of the Messiah...John knew by believing in Him and the One who sent Him that He held the power of eternal life...
And as we read Jesus later talking about John the Baptist, one can tell (I think) that Jesus was never seeking any fame...He was not seeking an acknowledgement of being worthy...Jesus very much compliments John and says this of His messenger, "Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he...From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it...For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John...And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come...Whoever has ears, let them hear."...To what can I compare this generation?...They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: " ‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’...For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’...The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’...But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”...
Many people saw Jesus as One who ate with sinners and tax collectors...He says of Himself, that some call Him a glutton and a drunkard...So, if He was seeking to be noteworthy, many people did not see it...In the midst of all of His crowds, He often was misidentified...But I do not think, Him not being famous hurt His feelings...Nor do I think it bothered Him that some called Him a glutton and drunkard...This is because He certainly knows who He is, whether those around Him do or do not...
Jesus came to teach us about God...Being noteworthy and popular were not the reasons why He came to earth...My guess is, it was not imperative for Him to stand out in each crowd He drew...However, He did stand out, but it is because who He is...He is I AM...How could He not stand out?...And yet, by not standing out as the most famous Person ever, He fit right in with those He taught...By not standing out in that sense -that He could have really stood out, I mean STOOD OUT, STOOD OUT!!! - I think makes some people miss who He is?...And as we look at all those He taught from His three year ministry through and including today, He has taught so many...It is not essential for Him to be noteworthy and famous, even though He is...For Him, what is essential is that He is believed...By accepting and believing He is the Son of God, we certify that God is Truthful...And whoever believes in Him and the One who sent Him has eternal life...
He most certainly is full of Amazing Grace and Truth, and deserves Glory, our praise, and our worship...