The Lord’s Chosen Servant
***John the Baptist was prophesied to come as a forerunner preparing the way for the Lord our God in Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi 3:1. These were confirmed to be fulfilled by John in Matt 3:3. He was sent to testify about the identity of the Lords anointed one (Messiah) spoken of in Isaiah 42:1
”Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.”
***The sign of the Holy Spirit being placed upon a particular individual was the signal that the Messiah had arrived. Isaiah refers to this person as “chosen” and John repeats that title in John 1: 29-34 when he reveals (unveils) the messiah to Israel.
John 1:
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ 31 I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”
32 Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. 33 I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.”
*** Later when John is challenged further about Jesus because the work being done through Jesus is growing larger than what john was doing he goes into great detail to describe who Jesus is. He plainly identifies Jesus as
- Coming from heaven;
2. Proclaiming what he has seen and heard in heaven
3. Receiving what He says validates the truth of God
4. Speaking the Words of God
5. Having an unlimited resource in the Holy Spirit (without Measure)
6. Being the Son of God
7. Having received all things from God the father
8. Believing in Him grants everlasting life to the believer
John 3:
27 John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ 29 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. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
31 He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. 33 He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. 34 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. 35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. 36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
***John from prison sends 2 of his disciples to ask Jesus plainly are you the messiah or do we need to keep on looking? But John had already testified that Jesus was the Messiah, what is going on here? John is in prison at Herod’s hand and I believe that he sensed that he would be executed soon. His whole lifes purpose was to look for and reveal the messiah to Israel. His life is ending soon and he is asking for some reassurance and encouragement before his life ends that he accurately fulfilled his life purpose. In other words God sent him to do a job and he is going to have to give an account to God soon and wants to make sure that he did what he was commanded and sent to do correctly.
Luke 7:
20 John’s two disciples found Jesus and said to him, “John the Baptist sent us to ask, ‘Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?’”
21 At that very time, Jesus cured many people of their diseases, illnesses, and evil spirits, and he restored sight to many who were blind. 22 Then he told John’s disciples, “Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard—the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” 23 And he added, “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.”
24 After John’s disciples left, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. “What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind? 25 Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people who wear beautiful clothes and live in luxury are found in palaces. 26 Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet.
27 John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say, ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way before you.’
28 I tell you, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of God is greater than he is!”
*** Jesus’ response to John’s inquiry was not verbal but visual. John’s disciples saw the Holy Spirit poured out through Jesus without measure. They did not carry an argument back to John to defend Jesus role as Messiah rather they carried back eye witness first hand experiences in seeing the miracles of God poured out through and demonstrated by a man.
*** Surly this is the one anointed with the Holy Spirit, the Chosen one. John, there is no doubt and you have fully completed what you were sent to do (Luke 1:11-17). There is a special recognition of John as being the greatest who has ever lived from Adam until the start of the Kingdom. John did well.
Hope Echos 
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