19/11/2018 - ABUNDANCE OF MATERIAL

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Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. John 3: 23

John the Baptist was a forerunner of Christ to open the way for Him. When questioned by the priests and Levites, sent from Jerusalem by the Jews, about who he was, John openly said that he was not the Christ. He also denied being Elijah or the prophet, but identified himself as the voice of one crying in the wilderness (John 1: 21-23) and warned all to make straight the way of the Lord, as Isaiah had prophesied.

The focus of his ministry was repentance and the consequent change of behavior. Those that repented were baptized, but first they had to publicly confess their sins. Although John was radical in his doctrine, many went into the wilderness to hear him. Undoubtedly, because he was guided by the Spirit of God, he was sought, even if it was difficult for people to go to where he was. 

Jesus’ success in Galilee was notorious, because multitudes went to Him. So when they heard Him, the needy were filled with faith and healed. The Master preached that sinners should repent, because the Kingdom of God was at hand (Matthew 3: 2). He taught of the power to heal infirmities, to destroy witchcraft and sorcery, by ministering the Truth to all; after all, deliverance takes place when we come to know the Truth (John 8: 32). The work that God gives us must be completed.

When heading with His disciples to Judea, Jesus began to baptize (John 3: 22). As we have seen, it was not He who did this, but the disciples under His supervision. It is interesting to note that we have not heard that this occurred before leaving Galilee to Judea. Sometimes preachers want to immediately baptize converts, as if they were in a competition to see who performs more baptisms. But by the example given by Christ, we must first indoctrinate the new believers.

Even though he knew that Jesus should increase and he should decrease (John 3: 30), John continued to baptize in Aenon, because the One who sent him did not order him to stop the ministry, which only happened when he died in prison. We should proceed in this way with all the missions from Heaven, until new instructions are given to us. What is important is to continue to serve the Most High with joy without neglecting any point of the divine plan.

John was baptizing in Aenon, because there were many waters there. In the same way, we will do the work where there is an abundance of “material” to use. For example, when God gives us an understanding of some part of the Bible that we had never understood or heard until then, we should continue to study and preach that message until we feel the moment to stop. When that happens, we and the people will be very blessed.

John was sent into the wilderness and spent the time of his ministry there. In the same way, we must stay where the Most High sends us. There is a purpose in the divine call, so we should not choose for ourselves when or where to start preaching or ending the mission entrusted to us. Moreover, those who are called must go their way until the end (Daniel 12: 13).

In Christ with love,

R. R. Soares