“And John bore witness, saying, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.’” John 1:32-34
When Jesus was baptized, John saw the Holy Spirit descend from heaven like a dove and remain on Jesus. And God had told John, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” John baptized with water and pointed people to Messiah Jesus, the Son of God. When we, according to Jesus’ word and command (Matt. 28:19), are baptized with water, Christ Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Spirit and washes away our sins in His shed blood (cf. Acts 2:38-39).
Dear Lord Jesus, Son of God, we thank You for washing away our sins in Your shed blood and raising us from spiritual darkness and death to new life in You through the gracious working of the Holy Spirit in our baptism. Amen.
“The next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’” John 1:29
John pointed his hearers to Jesus, saying that Jesus was that long-promised Messiah who would give His life as a sacrifice for the sins of all people in this world. Faithful ministers today still point people to Jesus and His atoning sacrifice for the sins of all and say, “Look to Jesus in faith; He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world; He is the only Savior!”
O merciful God, grant that we place our faith in Jesus for pardon, forgiveness, and eternal life. Amen.
“Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, ‘I am not the Christ.’” John 1:19-20
John the Baptist made no claims to be the Messiah and Savior. He did not seek a following for himself but directed his hearers to Messiah Jesus, the true Savior of the world. No pastor and no church can lay claim to being the Messiah or the Savior. Rather, like John, pastors and churches are to point people to Jesus, who came into this world to redeem us from sin and death!
O merciful Savior, grant me the wisdom to trust in You and point all to You, the true God and the only Savior of fallen mankind. Amen.
“No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” John 1:18
Jesus is the Son of God — God Himself — come into this world to reveal and make known to us the Father. To know God the Father, one must know and trust in God the Son, Jesus Christ, and He is made known to us by the Holy Spirit through the reading and hearing of God’s Word, the Bible.
Thank You, dear Father, for making Yourself known to us in the Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
“And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” John 1:16-17
Through Moses, God gave us His law, revealing our utter sinfulness and unworthiness before God. In Christ Jesus, God’s grace and truth came to us, revealing the salvation He has lovingly provided us through Christ’s cross. For the sake of Christ and His atoning sacrifice on the cross, God reaches out to us with mercy and forgiveness, and we receive from God grace upon grace when we look to Jesus in faith.
Thank You, O gracious Savior, for continually granting me mercy and forgiveness for the sake of Your atoning sacrifice on the cross for the sins of all. Amen.
