Jesus testifying about John says in verse 35 "John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light."
Jesus states that John burned and gave light. By studying John, we would be able to follow his example. To continue the discussion on the Blog - What charecteristic in John's Life, ministry, behaviour and work was Jesus comparing to Light.
Monday, May 12, 2008
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K M Mathew, Keller, TX.
May 14,2008.
Jhn Chapter 5
JOHN’s Character & Behaviour as Light.
(1) John the Baptist, burnt and gave lights.
(2) What Characteristics in John's life ministry, behaviour and work was Jesus comparing to light ? Following are the answers of the theme mentioned in - that ...
We have to consider AND study little bit about the Context of those versus:-
Our Lord vindicates his conduct, and shows, from the testimony of the Father, the Scriptures, John the Baptist, and his own works, that he came from God, to be the light and salvation of the world, vv. 17-39. He reproves the Jews for their obstinacy, Joh_5:40; hatred to God, Joh_5:41, Joh_5:42; pride, Joh_5:43, Joh_5:44; and disbelief of their own law, Joh_5:45-47.
(2). He proves it by the testimony of his Father, of John Baptist, of his miracles, and of the scriptures of the Old Testament, and condemns the Jews for their unbelief (v. 30-47).
Inaccordance with the commentaries and views of different theologians the insight vision is as follows:-
Light - The word in the original properly means a “lamp,” and is not the same which in Joh_1:4-5 is translated “light.” That is a word commonly applied to the sun, the fountain of light; this means a lamp, or a light that is lit up or kindled artificially from oil or tallow.
In these end days, we can see many organizations, crusades, worshipping groups, they claim that they gives light and they shine, but if you clearly examine their foundation and base, then we can see they are not abide in Jesus and his doctrines. Believers should beware of these teams and run away from such equimincal programmes.
The character of John Baptist:
He was a burning and a shining light... He was not the light of the world, i.e. the sun; but he was a lamp, to give a clear and steady light till the sun(Jesus) should arise. It is supposed that John had been cast into prison about four months before this time. As his light continued no longer to shine, our Lord says he Was.
Christ often spoke honourably of John; His office was to enlighten a dark world with notices of the Messiah's approach, to whom he was as the morning star.
His light of pure doctrine, and of an holy and exemplary conversation, shone very visibly, and brightly before men; and he burned with strong love and affection for Christ, and the souls of men; and with flaming zeal for the honour of God, and true religion, and against all sin and profaneness, which he was a faithful reprover of, and for which he lost his life.
He was a burning light, which denotes sincerity. It denotes also his activity, zeal, and fervency, burning in love to God and the souls of men; fire is always working on itself or something else, so is a good minister.
He was a shining light, which denotes either his exemplary conversation, in which our light should shine (Mat_5:16), or an eminent diffusive influence. He was illustrious in the sight of others; though he affected obscurity and retirement, and was in the deserts, yet such were his doctrine, his baptism, his life, that he became very remarkable, and attracted the eyes of the nation.
He was not that light, the Messiah, but the forerunner of that light, and was himself a very great one: he had much light himself into the person and office of the Messiah; in the doctrines of faith in Christ, and repentance towards God; in the Gospel dispensation, and gave great light to others, in the business of salvation, and remission of sins, and was the means of guiding the feet of many in the way of peace.
To shine in the world or to give light to the darken world, A believer should and must always stay in HIM only. Jhn 15: 1 to 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye except ye abide in me. Jesus is the true vine, and we are the branches of it. It continues, if a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch………. Ultimately it goes to the fire and they are burned.
There are few who preach the Gospel faithfully that do not lose their lives by it. Burning may refer to the zeal with which John executed his message; and shining may refer to the clearness of the testimony which he bore concerning Christ.
Only to shine is but vanity; and to burn without shining will never edify the Church of God. Some shine, and some burn, but few both shine and burn; and many there are who are denominated pastors, who neither shine nor burn. He who wishes to save souls must both burn and shine: the clear light of the knowledge of the sacred records must fill his understanding; and the holy flame of loving zeal must occupy his heart.
Zeal without knowledge is continually blundering; and knowledge without zeal makes no converts to Christ.
When John first appeared among them, they were fond, and even proud of him; they gloried in him, that a man of such uncommon endowments, and of such exemplary holiness, was raised up among them; and hoped that he was the Messiah, or Elias, that was to come before him; and pleased themselves, that times of great outward honour and prosperity were hastening: wherefore they flocked about him.
They were glad of him, in hopes to make a tool of him, by his interest and under the shelter of his name to have shaken off the Roman yoke, and recovered the civil liberty and honour of their country.
But upon hearing his doctrines of repentance, and threatened them with ruin and destruction, both in this world and that which is to come, they grew sick of him, and said he had a devil, and rejected the counsel of God he declared, and despised his baptism.
(Will continue according to the time availability ........ )
K M Mathew, Keller, TX 76248 continues on May 16, 2008.
We should be enlightened from his characters that –
As John the Baptist was not that light, the Messiah, but the forerunner of that light, we are also the ambassadors of Messiah to represent Him here with Heavenly standard and mark. We are the proclaimers of His 2nd coming (rapture), the preachers of Gospel, Repentance, Salvation, Holy baptism, justification, resurrection of the just and wicked, and the heavenly matrimony , judgment of Satan, etc, etc., etc., etc.
Our great commission was given by Jesus at the time of his departure from this world, is mentioned in Matt 28: (last 4 vs.). Whilst Jesus was in this world he asked his disciples to go and preach. The apostles went on preaching & preaching. The 1st centurion believers were keeping on preaching and giving testimony to others. Therefore within a short while the power of gospel shook the palace and throne, of from where the crucifixion order was given. The chief priests, scribes, Sanhedrim councils, royal council of Roman Govt were all even trembled before the gospel preaching. The only reason being that they were honestly carried out their mission with true divine Love. They were all given great respect and top most priority to preach and declare of Jesus as living LORD. Thus the Christianity was build upon the resurrected Lord and not on dead gods.
When the years passed away, centuries passed on, the church forgotten her mission and holy calling, she started to mingle with world and stock piling of other Gods, run after the worship of idols, never kept the separation and holiness, she started to sleep, slowly the power of holy spirit gone, church became only name sake in the world. The darken period started in the church from 3rd century until 16th century until Martin Luther and other reformist leaders to come in. From then the church again started to preach the Faith in Jesus and Salvation, etc., etc., the fundamental doctrines of Bibles, the church quacked with Holy Spirit, the wind blew-up throughout the dead valleys of world from West to East, the Bridegroom of Jesus – the church - started to prepare herself in fasting and praying, worshipping in spirit and truth, and preaching the gospel to everyone, to everywhere in the world thru all the available medias.
But when the time came in our presence i.e. in the 21st century, the church has been seen again sleeping. One can see she is holding the lamp in hand, but some has the oil, and some not. Now she is mixed up with others for sleep. She claims she is awaiting the appearance of her groom. At the same time she started to adopt the worldly junks, she starts to run after the items once she was thrown away. Now she started to argue that she wants this too and that too! One has to remember, this mixing idea is from the Devil. He started to pollute the church again.
In my opinion those who are still burning like John, has to equip themselves and their church as follows.
1. John introduced Jesus and he preached the justice and truth to the public and to Herod as well. He did not compromise with the political crimes. He wanted the Military personnel to be clean. He also wanted the Priesthoods to be cleaned. Therefore he was beheaded. Although he ministered only 6 months, he gave a very big price for his ministry ….. that is his life. I think, whilst his head was presented to Herod in a plate by soldiers, Herod could have hear the echoes of justice in his conscious from John’s preaching. Herod was afraid much of John.
Here we should compare ourselves to John the Baptist. We should prepare to pay a price sometime our life, for gospel preaching & propagation of His goodness. We should not be ignorant on this obligation. We should utilize all the available Medias thru our savings, thru our talents, thru our wordings, thru our talking, thru our meetings etc., etc. Our tithe and contributions should not be spent for any purpose other than this aim. Do not contribute our money to those preachers/visitors who comes with multi-entry visas for collections and fund raisings. Because all those money ultimately goes to build up their personal kingdoms in the means of buying vehicles, making their own real-estates, etc., etc.
2. Our churches should be a Power church and not to be a Paper church.
Churches of 1st century were the power center of Holy Spirit. Although they had not any public properties such as Church bldg, cemeteries, Schools & Hospitals, but their prayer units were the power batteries with full of heavenly ampere. Those days the angels used to appear for the suffering ones, and gates of Prison were used to open, in other incident the foundation of prison used to shaken therefore the whole criminals became new creatures for heaven. Just for one man the eunuch of Ethiopia, the apostle Philippose who got vision was zeal were run after the chariot. He never thought about his 4 girl children, nor the language or style or subjects of what to talk and how to preach to a ruler. The Holy Spirit made the circumstance very positive for Philippose to start the preaching. The result we know, the whole country of Ethiopia became xtian country later. Do the preachers of this age go like this? They ask you for a visa, for support funds, etc., etc., etc. Although those days the number of the churches were not able to find out in Papers, but the manifestation of holy power was the main motto.
Present days, the church reduced in power but grown in numbers or in paper (only in address for identity)
3. Our churches should be a Prayer Church and not the promotional churches.
In the 1st century the New Testament Churches were only the Prayer Cells. They were not having any immovable assets (buildings) worth of Millions of Dollars/Rupees/Shackles. James was beheaded by Herod, and the next one in the queue was Ptr and he was also cought up in jail, immdtly the others sat down in kneels. They did not announce in publications, did not request the neighbor churches to come for prayer, they did not make a committee & chairman for that purpose, they did not make a foreign visit to support Pter’s family, they did not arrange crusades & musical nights for this purpose of a fund raise for Ptr’s wife and mother-in-law.
The pain and taste of tears that came out from their tormented hearts was well evaluated by their Master Jesus from heaven and immdtly the Father answered. No sooner Ptr became free.
4. Our churches must be a Worship church and not to be a Party Church.
Our churches should not be aimed mainly for party and get together. Our gatherings must be aimed to worship in spirit and truth. The presence of Holy Spirit must shake everybody. Let the children of us to prophecy; let the youths & old to see visions as mentioned by Joel. For this, we have to pray.
These days our models of prayers are all about like the Pharisee and not like tax collector. (Lk 18 13) We can hear the arithmetical language of prayers from the mouth of Leaders & Preachers. Lord God bless only for those who repent himself about his faults and mistakes, and not comparison or in calculations with others.
These days, in our churches we have many items of party, in the means of birthdays, marriage anniversary, salary promotions, and car purchases, possession of apartments, etc. I am not against the benefits or rewards or even prosperity. But ….. can you count how many Sundays we gathered together with no Holy Communion? Then can’t you answer, our churches going to where in these days ……?
5. Our churches must be People oriented church and not to be Program churches.
In these days, we have lot of programmers in the churches. Beginning from Sunday School, whole night meetings, tarry meetings, prayer nights, cottage meetings, music training nights, youth meetings, camps, picnics, fast and prayers, ladies meeting, Old people gatherings, Young people gatherings, Anniversaries, promotional meetings for conventions, etc., etc., it goes in many headings as endless. Can we count all those meetings are people oriented ones? Are those worth to introduce Jesus to ungodly people and sinners? Do those meetings helpful for any sinners to see Jesus and his crucifixion? Can we compare the hours or times and money we spent for programmers as worthless?? When are we able to pay a price for gospel like John did?
6. Our churches should be Purpose driven Churches and not to be concentrated in Persons.
The church must concentrate for gospelization and evangelism works. And not to build up the popularity of Leaders and their politics. We should teach and preach in the churches only Jesus and not individuals. The Jews asked John are you the light, or that prophet, he answered I am not, I am only witnessing for Him. He must be grown up and I must be less.
We can read and see from the publications the Photos and wonder story of many I’m (individuals i.e., leaders) and not of Jesus. This also to be changed. The church publication and writings must be for the purpose of edifying each others and not to create the popularity of individuals or to create enmity with each other.
The church should be ready to preach the gospel to everyone. The teachings of the church, programme of the church, work of the church, everything must be people oriented one. Because the Father of heaven sent his begotten son to the world the reason being He loved the world so much….. But churches started to forget this vision.
Therefore, those who study this blog and enter into discussion of the chapter of John 5th should equip themselves like John.
Let’s clean our guns and point out to the ungodly and unclean things. The church must come back to the right path.
In these days, I honestly feel a generation of Pentecostal people has to born out from the womb of the so-called Pentecostal Church with the similar shout and motto of John the Baptist, Elisa and Elija of O.T, Stephen of Jerusalem, Paul of Tarsus, St. Thomas who martyred in Mylapore (Tamil Nadu). (May be I am wrong, I don’t know…!).
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