John 1:32-34

“32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.”

The fact that I’m not a trained pastor or theologian will probably come out here. John and Jesus had a weird relationship. In utero Christ had a powerful impact causing John to jump for joy while he was still in His mother’s womb. Yet, later they didn’t acknowledge each other as kin.

Before Christ’s ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit, Gabriel told Zechariah that John would go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, that he would be filled with the Holy Spirit, and then Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit too (All in Luke 1). There was a lot of Holy Spirit filing going on, and that has to leave mark.  Jesus knew. John knew. They had to. Yet, John says “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven”, then “I myself did not know Him” as if he didn’t. Maybe he didn’t anymore because Jesus was God and John was human.  It points to some serious differences between them, even though John was pretty powerfully touched by God.

Is Jesus real? To deny either of those is absolute insanity. There is no doubt unless you apply a radically different proof process to Jesus than that of other ancient history. Jesus is real. Is He different? There can be no doubt of that either. People don’t make unborn babies jump for joy, have people see the Holy Spirit descend out of the sky, or tell people everything about their lives, but God does. God did in Jesus. Jesus is different.

What’s the point? Jesus is who he says he is. Therefore, what He did for us is true, and what He calls us to do is true. To refuse to do so isn’t risky business, it’s suicide for the eternal part of our life.

Shake the cobwebs of doubt from your mind and will. Embrace the blessing we have been given. Christ is true, Christ is risen, death is defeated. We are saved if we choose to follow His commands.

Believe it like John did. Live like you believe it.