| John, the writer of the fourth Gospel, introduces | | | | God puts His seal upon these words by having |
| us to John the Baptist, or John the plunger, | | | | them written in His Holy Word. |
| because that is what he did. He took people who | | | | For years, John had lived in the wilderness, in dry |
| had repented of their sins into the River Jordan | | | | barren arid heat, but God had revealed something |
| and plunged them in its waters. Then we are | | | | to him, and now it was all beginning to come true. |
| introduced to Jesus. Here are three leaders each | | | | John does not draw attention to Himself but |
| with their own very unique and distinct leadership. | | | | points to Jesus Christ, desiring that the focus and |
| Each had a vital part to play in the plans and | | | | emphasis might be upon Jesus. That is dynamic |
| purposes of Almighty God. | | | | humble leadership and it is scarce and rare. |
| The next day, John saw Jesus coming to him. We | | | | There was that day when Jesus came to John to |
| read of all this in John Chapter 1. Do take time to | | | | be baptised in water, and John did not want to |
| read the text of the Scriptures. | | | | baptise Jesus. John wanted to be baptised by |
| After the confrontation and after the conflict, | | | | Jesus, not with water, of course, but with the |
| which he handled so ably, Jesus comes to him. | | | | Holy Spirit. We read of that in Matthew Chapter 4. |
| Behold! Look! That's Him! He is the One I have | | | | He knew there was more. John wanted to |
| been speaking about, and He will take away the | | | | experience this powerful baptism, which we can |
| sin of the world." | | | | experience today. But it was not yet the time for |
| This Lamb, this Ram of God, like any other | | | | Jesus to begin baptising people in the Holy Spirit. |
| sacrificial animal, would die, and already John is | | | | That did not begin until seven weeks after Jesus |
| pointing to the death of Jesus Christ, and its | | | | had died and was raised from the dead. |
| significance. | | | | For them it was three years away, but for us we |
| John the writer of this Gospel is pointing to the | | | | do not have to wait. |
| Cross of Christ and it is only Chapter 1. Jesus | | | | The risen and ascended and living Lord Jesus |
| Christ shed His blood and died to take away our | | | | Christ continues to baptise men and women in the |
| sin, not just to reduce it, but to take it away. | | | | Holy Spirit with the same consequences imparting |
| The second thing John says about Jesus is that | | | | power for service, and power to share, power to |
| He is the One Who Baptises with the Holy Spirit. | | | | heal, power to love, and power to serve when it |
| He is the Saviour, and He is the Baptiser. | | | | is challenging to serve. |
| God told me something in the wilderness. He told | | | | Luke and John and Mary and each of the others |
| me that upon whom I would see the Spirit of | | | | experienced this powerful baptism, and Jesus |
| God descending and remaining, that would be the | | | | offers that to us and we do not have to wait and |
| One Who is the Lamb of God, the Saviour, and | | | | struggle. |
| he would be the One Who would baptise people in | | | | They too were all leaders in their own right, and |
| the Holy Spirit. I use water when I baptise, but He | | | | they played their part with such faithfulness. What |
| will use the Holy Spirit. And I saw that happen and | | | | part do you have to play? |
| that is why I am speaking as I am. | | | | |