Posted on 09/09/2019 12:57:30 PM PDT by metmom
“John testified about Him and cried out, saying, ‘This was He of whom I said, “He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.”’ For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace” (John 1:15–16).
John brought in other witnesses to the truth about the divine, preexistent, incarnate Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. He first called on John the Baptist.
That John “cried out” speaks of the bold, public nature of his witness to Jesus; he was “the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, make His paths straight!’” (Matt. 3:3). He was the herald, proclaiming the arrival of the Messiah, and calling people to repent and prepare their hearts to receive Him. Acknowledging Jesus’ preeminence, John said of Him, “He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.” Jesus, the Expected (literally, “coming”) One (Luke 7:19–20) came after John in time; He was born six months later and began His public ministry after John began his. Yet, as John acknowledged, Jesus had “a higher rank than” he did, “for He existed before” him. This is a reference to Jesus’ eternal preexistence.
The apostle also points to the witness of all believers, who “have all received” the fullness of blessing from the one who is “full of grace and truth” (v. 14). You can add your voice to that testimony by faithfully living out and proclaiming the truth of the gospel.
Ask Yourself
Spend some time today reflecting on all you have received from Christ, how “grace upon grace” has been added, multiplied, and stacked one on top of another in your life—day after day, year after year. Celebrate His grace and goodness with the measure it has been poured out on you.
Studying God’s Word ping
You have no idea how much I needed your post today! Guess God does work in mysterious ways! Currently my family is having what I have termed a crisis of faith in that we are currently looking at changing churches. Our young daughter has been made to feel very unwelcome at our current church and I want her to have a church home because I know how important a relationship with our Lord is.
For what reason?
Not sure of the reason- all I know is she said when the Sunday school teacher walked out of the room the other girls in the class would throw things at her or try to snatch stuff out of her hand (like pencils, scissors, or papers they were working on). Another example (one I can say I did not mind for obvious reasons) was whenever the teacher brought powdered donuts- which she did every other week, the kids would pass the bag around my daughter or do what they could to keep her from getting any. At events sponsored by the church these girls would go out of their way to exclude my daughter from participating in the activities. I did walk up on them one time telling my daughter if she wasn’t careful they would push her down the stairs from their Sunday school room. I told them in a calm tone if they did that then I would drag them back up the stairs and throw them over the rail.
I’d leave too
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