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Topic: The True Witness
[DCLM Daily Manna 21 May 2020 Daily Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]
Text: John 1:15-34
15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?
20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.
21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.
22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?
23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.
24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.
25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?
26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;
27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
Key Verse: “John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me” (John 1:15).
MESSAGE:
A witness is someone who bears testimony to the truth of a matter and is committed and ready to testify to its veracity. A true witness upholds his testimony even if this will belittle his own person before others.
John the Baptist was a true witness. By earthly standards, he was senior to Jesus and a relation. But he looked beyond the earthly and, at Jesus’ baptism, he proclaimed Him the Messiah. He knew that truly Jesus came from God (John 1:33), and that He is the Son of God (verse 34). He recognised and appreciated his job of pointing others to Jesus. John the Baptist was an acknowledged and well-known preacher who attracted large crowds; yet, he was truly satisfied to give Jesus the pride of place. He told the people, including his own disciples, that “He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose”. John the Baptist was no doubt, a humble witness and servant of God. Indeed, his humility was infectious. The basis for true greatness in preaching, teaching and rendering service unto God is Christlike humility and lowliness.
True servants of God must humble themselves in all things. Whatever success they achieve in ministry, they must acknowledge God as the Source. When you honour Him this way, doing no more than He has assigned you, He will not only mark you a true witness but will also reward you greatly here on earth and in eternity. Be a true witness of the unchanging gospel.
Thought For The Day: Christlike humility is the springboard to great achievements.
The Bible In One Year: 1 Samuel 3-5
