There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. John 1:6 (ESV)
John was an amazing man, like Elijah in the Old Testament, he stood alone and confronted a nation with the message of God.
He was the appointed representative of God on earth and huge crowds went out to see him and hear what he had to say.
His birth was a miracle.
His parents were an elderly childless couple when his father saw an angel who promised his birth. His calling and task was to prepare a nation for the coming of the Son of God.
What did Jesus say about John?
John was a friend of God, as were Abraham and Moses. Few of us can claim to know God as well as John did, yet we have a higher privilege than any of the Old Testament prophets.
In the Old Testament, God spoke through the prophets and described Himself as the Husband of His people Israel but this was the relationship between God and His nation, not a personal intimate relationship with each believer.
After the death and resurrection of Jesus and especially after the outpouring of the Spirit of God, each believer can enter boldly into the presence of God, as a son or daughter coming to the father or like a wife coming to her husband.
This is sensational!
John was an amazing man, like Elijah in the Old Testament, he stood alone and confronted a nation with the message of God.
He was the appointed representative of God on earth and huge crowds went out to see him and hear what he had to say.
His birth was a miracle.
His parents were an elderly childless couple when his father saw an angel who promised his birth. His calling and task was to prepare a nation for the coming of the Son of God.
What did Jesus say about John?
Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Matthew 11:11 (ESV)
But then Jesus said something amazing, something few of us have properly understood.“...Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
How can that be? John was filled with the Holy Spirit even in his mother’s womb, before he was born!John was a friend of God, as were Abraham and Moses. Few of us can claim to know God as well as John did, yet we have a higher privilege than any of the Old Testament prophets.
He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. John 3:29 (NKJV)
If you have trusted in Jesus to be your Lord and God, you are a brand new person inside.Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. NKJV 2 Corinthians 5:17
The Bible calls the followers of Jesus the Bride of Christ. This is not entirely new.In the Old Testament, God spoke through the prophets and described Himself as the Husband of His people Israel but this was the relationship between God and His nation, not a personal intimate relationship with each believer.
After the death and resurrection of Jesus and especially after the outpouring of the Spirit of God, each believer can enter boldly into the presence of God, as a son or daughter coming to the father or like a wife coming to her husband.
This is sensational!
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