John 1:7-8. “The same came for a witness, to bear witness of that Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.”.
OUT OF OBSCURITY: the reason for the cross. Two men living in obscurity, changed the course of the whole human race. Both men were sent by God, and yet both, human lineage could trace. One from the tribe of Levi; the other from Judah's kingly tribe. Both were miraculously born; both as faithful men, at the hands of others died.
One went from home to a desert place where a prophetic message he learned. The other remained in His despised hometown; as a carpenter His living earned. One from a priestly home – a prophetic declaration to the nation was to bring. The other was to most a common man; but He was a prophet, a priest and a king.
One of them came to warn the nation; the other came the nation to bless. One's message was a call to repentance; the other's message – new birth and God's forgiveness. One was popular with the people he preached to; the other despised and rejected of men. One was a final prophet for the Jewish nation; the other was the Lord from heaven.
It really is hard to figure out why the prophet was so widely received. The people came from afar to hear him, and the message he gave, they believed. John's role was to publicly bear witness of the Light that to them would come. People gave heed to his words from common people and soldiers, to a king sitting on his throne.
When John pointed out the True Light; people looked at the other Man askance. When Jesus was identified as the Lamb of God; the nation rejected Him and lost their chance Of a national redemption and restoration, and for that they continue to suffer. The Work of the Lord who was slain on the cross is sufficient the sin of the world to cover.
These two men moved from obscurity to places of national prominence. The God-Man brought the Light and the Life; the prophet called for true repentance. In God's unfolding redemptive plan, both were used His will to fulfill. What was introduced way back then is continuing all across the world still.
John is gone, waiting for the resurrection, but the eternal Word is alive and well. Jesus still is the Light, the Lamb of God; the Master whose will we fulfill. He is the Christ: The Son of God; He is the King of Israel. The message John preached and the work Jesus did, bring blessing to people still.
“I know Gracious Father; I haven't been able to express myself today the way I would like to. But You know my heart. Some things just defy description. I thank Thee my life is hid with Christ in Thee. Please guide me through this day and may I be able to in some way honor Thee. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”