Priest and Prophet

John the Baptist was an amazing man.  As I was studying John chapter 1 this morning two things really spoke to me and in particular one really challenged me...

John 1:6-8 says, "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John (John the Baptist). He came as a WITNESS, to bear witness about the Light (Jesus), that ALL might believe through him.  He (John) was not the Light, but came to bear witness about the Light (Jesus)."

John the Apostle introduces this amazing man, John the Baptist here in John 1:6.  John the Baptist was both a Priest and a Prophet. As a Prophet, John spoke on behalf of God. As a Priest, he spoke on behalf of the people to God. (Side note - Luke 1:5 tells us of John's lineage proving that he was a Levite and was from the direct lineage of Aaron which would have made him a Jewish Priest.) Being a Priest and a Prophet is exactly what ministry is all about. Ministry is both prophetic and priestly - talking to the people about God and talking to God about the people.

The part that was so challenging to me was this... John like you and I came to be a witness of Jesus. Notice that we aren't called to be attorney's. We aren't called to debate, argue or convince. We are simply called to be witnesses -  to share the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth about the person of Jesus. We do this by simply sharing what Jesus has done and is doing in our lives. To often people think witnessing is confrontational and argumentative. But as I am learning it doesn't need to be that way at all.  When we just simply share what the Lord is doing in our lives we are free from the pressure to convert and treat people like projects. For the longest time I really felt like it was my job to "take up" for Jesus. Which made me not come across very loving... in fact I came across angry and annoyed by people who didn't think the way I did. Thanks be to Jesus that He is slowly freeing me from this.

Vs7 says that John came so that ALL might believe in Jesus through him. Wow... 2 Peter 3:9 says, "The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." The desire of God's heart is that NOT ONE SINGLE PERSON would die without knowing Him. Think of the person that bugs and irritates you the most... Did you know that Jesus is madly in love with that person and desires for him or her to be saved? The Scripture says that John came so that ALL might believe.  ALL literally means ALL!

What really challenges and convicts me is that I'm not sure how I'm doing at this all the time.  I am often so busy with "ministry" that I'm not sure how my life, words and deeds are bearing witness to ALL my neighbors, friends, family and others about the Light of Jesus.  We are ALL called to bear witness to Jesus so that ALL might believe in Him.

How are you doing at this personally?  Is your life drawing people to Him or is your life confusing others about who Jesus really is? My encouragement to us is to spend as much time as we can with the Light of the World so that we are a reflection of the Light to everyone at all times.  In all things lets realize we are being a witness and lets make sure our lives are being the right kind of witness! That through our lives ALL MIGHT BELIEVE IN JESUS THROUGH US.