Category:

Preparing the way

Prophets of Salvation

by Esther Griggs September 29, 2023

written by Esther Griggs

In 1 Peter 1:10-12, Peter writes about the prophets. These men of God asked questions and searched diligently. They desired to know more about what they heard from the Spirit of Christ regarding our salvation. They prophesied of the grace that would come to those who would receive it. Peter wrote about these prophets, the message they foretold and how it relates to us.

The Prophets

We learn much about the prophets from the New Testament. After the resurrection of Jesus, He explained how the words of the prophets spoke of Him. Their words were like a blueprint for Jesus. Often the events and actions of His life were described as a fulfilment of scripture or the prophets. These prophets were men like Moses and King David, Isaiah and Jeremiah, Zechariah and Malachi.

Their Message

Their message pointed to a Saviour, not only for Israel but for the whole world. Peter addressed the sufferings of Christ. For an example, we look to King David who wrote of God’s King, His eternal throne, of His being God’s Son and our High Priest. In Psalm 22 David intimately described the final days of Jesus’ life, “My God My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Even the mocking David wrote about in verses 6-8 of Psa. 22, describe the scene of that day. The pain expressed in verses 12-18 further painted the picture of our Saviour the day of His crucifixion. This prophecy and others foretold a Saviour from birth to resurrection.

How It Relates to Us

How do these ancient words apply to us? For one, Peter says they “prophesied of the grace that would come to you.” He also wrote that the prophets tried to understand the sufferings of Christ, when they would happen and the glorious things that followed. However, God revealed to them through the Holy Spirit, sent from Heaven, that they were servants. They were telling another generation about the things that his readers could look back on, the things spoken of and recorded by the apostles. Even the angels longed to look into these things. The prophets served us. The writer of Hebrews tell us they are not complete without us. They were looking to the fulfillment of God’s promises, to a continuing city where one day they will be made perfect when in union with us.

What an awesome God! Peter wrote about these prophets, the message they foretold and how it relates to us.

September 29, 2023 0 comments

Biblical History identity Preparing the way

The Way John Sees It

by Esther Griggs November 12, 2021

written by Esther Griggs

John has been preparing the way in the desert. Now in John chapter three we see his job is nearing its completion. Though John understands what is happening, his followers are concerned when they see Jesus taking His place. They are feeling threatened and fear for John as people begin to flock to this new spiritual leader. This is the way John sees it. With news of Jesus’ success, John is secure in his calling, understands the history of Jesus and knows the job Jesus must do.

Secure in His Calling

First we see that John is secure in his calling. Before John’s birth an angel approached his father Zacharias. This child would go in the power and spirit of Elijah to prepare a people ready to receive the Lord. John grew up knowing this call. The Spirit confirmed it. He reminds his followers of this role and used the illustration of a bridegroom. He was to announce His coming and at His arrival he would rejoice at the sound of His voice. Now with Jesus beginning His earthly mission, John would be stepping back. As Jesus increased, he would decrease.

The History of Jesus

Secondly he knew the history of Jesus. John grew up learning the prophecies about the Messiah. He knew Jesus was from above. We talk about where we are from. Those are the stories we know. Jesus is from heaven. He knows about heaven and so these are the topics He is confident to speak of. It places Him above all else. Just previously Jesus had relayed this same concept to Nicodemus.

The Job Jesus Must Do

Finally, John knew the job Jesus must do. Jesus came to speak the words of God. He was loved by God and God had given Him all things. He had given Him the Spirit who isn’t given by a cup or an ounce, but without measure. Further John tells them how believing in Jesus brings everlasting life. To not believe keeps them under the wrath of God. Here John is again confirming the truths that Jesus had shared with Nicodemus.

The things John had learned growing up about the Messiah, how his call would be to prepare the way, and the call of God to His Son Jesus, all came together and were confirmed to Him by the Holy Spirit. With the news of Jesus’ success, John is secure in his calling, understands the history of Jesus and knows the job Jesus must do

November 12, 2021 0 comments

identity Preparing the way

Who Are You?

by Esther Griggs September 3, 2021

written by Esther Griggs

In John 1: 19-28 we see the apostle John telling his readers about John’s testimony. This is the story John related. He spoke of his identity. There are those who question who he is, but John knows his calling. We learn his answer to the big question, “Who are You?” We read who asked the question and discover One greater than John.

Who Are You?

This question comes to us from others. It also comes from within. The enemy of our soul can also taunt us with the question. To this question John tells them first of all, who he is not. The Jewish people looked for a Messiah. John confesses, “I am not the Christ.” Then he further states that he is not the prophet Elijah, nor was he The Prophet. Instead, he says, “I am.” And then quotes the prophet Isaiah. “The voice,” “crying in the wilderness,” “make straight the way of the Lord.”

His statement is the word of God, spoken through the prophet Isaiah. It is rich in purpose. The defining of his identity rested in the revealed word of God and gave him his mission.

Who is asking?

We know from this passage that John’s message out in the wilderness caused a stir in the city of Jerusalem especially among the religious leaders. The priests, the Levites and those of the Pharisees, commissioned by the spiritually elite in Jerusalem, needed answers. Who was this guy? They were sent to find out . They also wanted to know what gave him the right to baptize with water, especially when he didn’t seem to have a position to warrant it. They needed to put him in a box to fit their religious understanding. He was messing in their territory.

The Greater One

Nevertheless, John’s identity and purpose, his authority, came from the Word. Among those who questioned, stood the Living Word. “There stands among you One you do not know.” Then he explains about the One who came after him yet superseded him. John isn’t even worthy to undo His sandal. In John’s way he communicates, “It’s not about me. It’s about this One you do not know. I am here to prepare the way.”

We, like this man, find our identity and our calling as we look to the Living Word. God may use us to prepare the way for someone else to recognize the Christ. There will always be those who do not understand who we are, nor our call. Yet what a blessing should the question of who we are in Christ, pave the way for those who ask, to learn of the One who is greater.

Thus, we read John’s answer to “Who are you?” Who asked the questions? and discover the greater One than John.

September 3, 2021 0 comments

Preparing the way

The Word, The Witness, The Wonder

by Esther Griggs August 27, 2021

written by Esther Griggs

The Word was in the beginning, was with God and was God. John declares that the Word created the world. The Word also is life. The life enlightens all men.

This Word became flesh and lived among us. He revealed God. “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” (Galatians 4:4) They learned He was the only begotten of the Father. His contemporaries saw Him, full of grace and truth. It showed up when He fed the multitudes, calmed the storms, healed the blind, ministered to children and the poor, or scolded the religious leaders. All the fullness of God was in Jesus. God sent the Word. However, God prepared the way for the Word by sending a witness and now we can experience the wonder.

The Witness

The apostle John writes of John the witness. The prophet Malachi speaks of the witness when he writes, “Behold I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me.” As the witness he was first to say, “This is Him.” Here is the One I was telling you about. He is the One who comes after Me. The Word is more important than I. He was before Me.

How, when he was born prior to Jesus, can the witness make this claim? John knows Jesus is God. Jesus was in the beginning, at creation. The witness speaks of this One who came before him as creator and in the position as God’s only begotten Son. John is the witness to God being Man.

A Wonder

We have all received from His fullness, grace for grace. God through Moses brought the law. But now as the writer to the Hebrews states,” in these last days” God speaks through His Son. Rather than being about law, John writes, it is about grace and truth. “Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.” Rom. 5:21.

No one has ever seen God. Moses saw His form but never His face. Now in the fullness of time, Jesus, the Word of God, declares Him. Jesus tells us that no man comes to the Father except through Him. He is the way, the truth and the Life. When we live in His truth, we will know the truth. It will set us free from the law of sin and death. In Him we have life, abundant life. It is a wonder! God sent the Word but prepared the way by sending a witness and we experience the wonder.

August 27, 2021 1 comment