daily java

Daily Java:

This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants  from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you?” He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.” “Well then, who are you?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?” “No,” he replied. “Are you the Prophet we are expecting?” “No.” “Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?” John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah: “I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’” (John 1:19-23)

The problem with a lot of government jobs is that many of them were intended to be temporary and turned into permanent positions.

The same holds true with committees. A committee is put into existence in order to address a certain need. When the need is met, the committee is kept on. Then after a few years, the committee’s existence gets etched in stone.

There was a man named Cincinnatus  who was a wealthy and influential farmer. He was an aristocrat and political figure of the Roman Republic, serving as consul in 460 BC and Roman dictator in 458 BC and 439 BC. Rome was under attack and he was the best man to lead it. He quit his farm, became dictator, won the war, resigned his position as leader of the Roman Republic and went back to his farm.

He did what was needed and then dissolved his job.

The rest of the dictators didn’t want to do that. They wanted to stay around after the problem was solved and be king. But Cincinnatus didn’t.

John the Baptizer knew this too. He knew that he was nothing more than a signpost, pointing the way to Jesus.

In John 3:29-31 (NLT) John says:  

It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the best man is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success. He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.

He knew his job was temporary and didn’t try to make something permanent of it. Like Cincinnatus, he was happy to do what was needed when it was needed.

When Jesus came, John sent all of his apostles to Jesus. He pointed at Jesus and proclaimed Jesus the Son of David, the Messiah. He was here for Jesus, Jesus was not here for him. and he knew it.

There is an automatic greatness conferred when one does his or her job and then steps down. Too many committees and other temporary things become permanent simply because someone does not want to give up the spotlight.

When John gave us the spotlight, it was no more than six months later that he was dead, beheaded on the whim of a little slut who danced for a king. John had made the king’s wife mad when he told her she was wrong to live with the king and not be married. She had her young daughter dance for the king knowing it would make him excited. When he wanted to reward her, her mother told her to ask for John the Baptizer’s head on a silver platter.

An ignominious end to a noble and godly man. On the other hand, John went to be with God. And if he had stayed, his disciples probably would have tried to make two camps out of the Christian faith.

And he had done his job and done it well. He was through.

Later, in Matthew 11:7-14, Jesus said:

What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind? Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people with expensive clothes live in palaces. Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet. 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.’ I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is! And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it. For before John came, all the prophets and the law of Moses looked forward to this present time. And if you are willing to accept what I say, he is Elijah, the one the prophets said would come. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!

John the Baptizer was some man and was truly blessed by God.

But above all, he had the grace and the common sense to recognize that he was temporary.