Counting the Stars – Bonikowsky Family
  • Count the stars!
  • CTS Publications
  • Family
    • Andy & Mimi
    • Our kids
    • Sending church
    • Mission agency
  • Ministries
    • Postcard projects >
      • 2022 postcard project
      • 2020 postcard project
      • Previous postcards
      • Previous projects
    • Living Hope Baptist Church
    • Missionary Teen Retreats
    • Aierdi farmhouse
    • Gospel literature/printing
  • Contact
  • The Gospel
  • Blog

John's Honesty

11/19/2021

0 Comments

 
Matthew 11:4, "And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?"

Does this not surprise you? Really. It is the kind of thing we might expect from Thomas maybe, but John the Baptist?

Before John was conceived, Gabriel, sent from the very presence of God, had appeared to his father and revealed both his name and his prophetical calling as the forerunner of the King. Months before his birth, his little body jumped at the presence of the virgin Mary, indicating with that very act the unusual character of both his person and that of the Messiah in the virgin's womb. As he was growing up, his parents would have repeated to him over and over again the miraculous nature of his conception. Finally, when he baptized Jesus, he clearly heard the Father’s voice and watched the Spirit descend as the Trinity came together for the occasion.

How could he possibly doubt Jesus’ identity?

It was John who gave us famous phrases like, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness”, or “He must increase, but I must decrease.”. This was a man who knew exactly who he was as well as what his divinely appointed mission was. He lived a life so radically different from the rest of “normal” human beings and so intensely focused that we cannot possibly question his commitment to God.

But as the days went by in that wretched prison, no longer free to go and preach wherever he wanted and eat his wild and exotic menu, John’s friends came to him with reports of what Jesus was doing and he began to wonder.

What exactly was Jesus' plan? The things John was hearing didn't fit in at all with what he understood to be the role of the Anointed One. In fact, it didn't seem like his special cousin was in the least bit trying to set up God's kingdom.

I’m pretty sure he had voiced his uncertainty with his closest friends, and they all tried to make sense of it. Finally, he decided it was time to get this thing settled once and for all and sent a couple of his followers to personally ask the Lord if He was indeed the Messiah or not.

I find two things very significant: first, that he sent his friends with the request, and second, that the Holy Spirit had Matthew record it for us.

Most importantly, Jesus did not chastise John for voicing his legitimate concerns. Rather, he gave him a personal and clear answer that focused on the miraculous changing of lives, in both the physical and spiritual realms. Then He went on to honor him as one of God’s great prophets. All of this, both the questioning and the honoring, were clearly recorded for us to learn from.

When we are troubled by disconcerting circumstances and see our expectations completely wiped out, it is important to be honest with God and go to Him for answers. If we are sincere and willing to accept His responses, whether we understand them or not, He will ultimately bring peace to our hearts and increase our trust.

Dear Father, thank you for John’s honesty and for letting us in on his private and somewhat confused state of mind. Thank you for his courage and determination to know the truth. Give me humility and patience in dealing with others who may go through this valley at any given time. 

(JAM #170)

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Humorous stories from 50 years on the mission field!

    Categories

    All
    For Servants Only
    Just A Minute
    Just A Second
    Thoughts On Leadership
    Thoughts On Thinking

    Archives

    January 2023
    March 2022
    November 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    February 2019
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    December 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    July 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013

    RSS Feed