In the news
Glance at the headlines of any news website right now and you will see very much the same thing... death, dispair, destruction. It is hard to find good news these days and not only as a result of the most recent natrual desaster in our nation's south. Whether it is Korea, China, the Philippines, Russia, Afganistan, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Israel (the list could go on, just take a look at the world news on Google) bad news abounds.
I've been reading a lot about John the Baptist as I am continuing to prepare my John class at the Bible College; something interesting stood out to me today as I considered this awesome character. Through the years the titile "The Baptisit" has been almost a last name to this great man, but as I examined the book of John today I found that you never see him there called or refered to as "John the Baptist." The synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) do refer to the son of Zacharias as "John the Baptist," yet the 4th gospel ascribes to John another name, or shall I say title. In the Gospel of John the "baptist" is known as "The Witness," for while baptisim was a function of his ministry it was not the foundaiton of his calling.
John the Witness proclaimed the Good News of the coming Prince, and in a world filled with bad news we must also be witnesses proclaiming the Good News of the returning King! Yes there will always be other functions in our lives, but let us never forget the foundation.
I've been reading a lot about John the Baptist as I am continuing to prepare my John class at the Bible College; something interesting stood out to me today as I considered this awesome character. Through the years the titile "The Baptisit" has been almost a last name to this great man, but as I examined the book of John today I found that you never see him there called or refered to as "John the Baptist." The synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) do refer to the son of Zacharias as "John the Baptist," yet the 4th gospel ascribes to John another name, or shall I say title. In the Gospel of John the "baptist" is known as "The Witness," for while baptisim was a function of his ministry it was not the foundaiton of his calling.
John the Witness proclaimed the Good News of the coming Prince, and in a world filled with bad news we must also be witnesses proclaiming the Good News of the returning King! Yes there will always be other functions in our lives, but let us never forget the foundation.
"Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel" 1 Corinthians 1:17a
posted by Miles at
9/01/2005 12:20:00 AM
1 Comments:
AMEN! I am encouraged and rallied to be about HIs business and not my own... LORD what a great calling we have to be witnesses unto YOU... Thank you Miles, good word... May HE ever more make us all instruments of His good news in a dark and desperate world...
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