John’s Wonder

This event is also recorded in John’s Gospel and some details are added from John’s viewpoint. Perhaps because John, the future apostle,  was also a disciple of John the Baptist.

John 1:29–34 29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. 31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
Jesus, who was the cousin of John, comes to the Jordon River, but unlike the Pharisees or Sadducees, who come to judge and criticize, Jesus comes to submit and be baptized at the hand of John. If that seems strange to you, that the Messiah, the King, the Son of God should submit to John, the camel hair clad, loud, locust eater, then you can understand why John said, “I should be baptized by you not you baptized by me”

And listen to the gracious words of Jesus, “Let it be this way now, for it is right for us to fulfill all righteousness.” The same Jesus that submitted to the will of the father and come to earth, the same Jesus that submitted himself to wash the disciple’s feet is the same Jesus who submits to John, God’s prophet and forerunner of Himself. It was the right thing to do. John knew this and baptizes His Lord and Messiah.

Then the heaven’s open and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descends and settles on Jesus and the Father’s voice calls out in full confirmation, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

We read in John’s Gospel that when God had commission the Baptist as the forerunner, he would be given a sign, that could not be misunderstood nor denied. That sign was what John saw and heard when Jesus rose from under the waters of Jordan. John had known Jesus as his cousin. I’m sure he had heard his parents talk of Mary’s miracle, he knew the Angel’s prophecy but now He had seen God’s fulfillment, His confirmation of that prophecy of the identity of the Messiah. And he would need that miraculous sign from God because he would not see Jesus’ miracles, or his triumphal entry or his resurrection. Their paths diverge and John would even give up his ministry and his disciples to the Lord. He needed to see God’s hand now, for it was the confirmation and also the culmination of his work.
The Wonder Until

Wouldn’t it have been truly wonderful, in the literal sense of that word, to be there that day and see John baptize Jesus? Wouldn’t it have been a day full of wonder? Hearing John’s fiery message to repent, then watching as those who believe walk down by their hundreds to the river and watch as John immerses them in the river. That would be wonderful, but then you hear the whispers start, someone out of the ordinary has stepped out of the crowd, John’s face shows it, he was not expecting this person to come to the banks of the Jordan along with all the others.

Perhaps we can hear as John and Jesus talk, perhaps not but we can tell something is different, finally John lowers Jesus under the water and when he comes up, water still running from his hair and beard, the heaven’s are opened, not just heaven, but the heavens. The skey we can see sky above us and a door opened to the throne room of God. A dove descends from that heaven and it lands on Jesus and we hear a voice that says, “This is my beloved Son.” Some say that only John saw and heard, maybe so, maybe not, but we can see it now though God’s written Word. And it is still wonderful, isn’t it.

Through the Gospels I can see the wonder in John’s eyes that day, I can see the amazement in the faces of the disciples when Jesus walked on the water, or the joy in the smiles of Martha and Mary when Lazarus walked out of that grave. And wonder of all wonders, I can sit in that locked dark room with those frightened apostles and see the glory of the resurrected Lord, when he appears and drives the shadows from the room and the doubts from their hearts.

Isn’t that full of wonder? This book contains all the wonder I need until that day that I will no longer need to walk by faith, but my eyes shall behold the greatest wonder of all, the glory of God in heaven. The same apostle John, that recorded the glory of God at baptism of Jesus, as a very young man perhaps not even 30 years old, also saw the great glory of God’s eternal city as a very old man, and it was filled him with even more wonder.

Revelation 21:1-4 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Revelation 21:10-11 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;

Revelation 21:22-23 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

I have the wonder of God’s word telling me what happened that day at the Jordan river, but I didn’t see it with these eyes. But one day I won’t have to read about it, one day I won’t have to turn to a page in scripture, one day as a child of God I will seen the wonder of wonders with my own eyes, the holy city, New Jerusalem. I will live there for all eternity, I will see the glory of God and light of the lamb, Jesus my Lord. And won’t it be wonderful there never a tear will ever fall again. No more death, no more sorrow, no more crying, no more pain. I can’t wait, for it will be the wonder that I will see with my own eyes.

When With The Saviour We Enter The Glory Land,
Won’t It Be Wonderful There?
Ended The Troubles And Cares Of The Storyland,
Won’t It Be Wonderful There?

Won’t It Be Wonderful There?
Having No Burdens To Bear?
Joyously Singing With Heart-Bells All Ringing,
O Won’t It Be Wonderful There?

Walking And Talking With Christ, The Supernal One,
Won’t It Be Wonderful There?
Praising Adoring The Matchless Eternal One,
Won’t It Be Wonderful There?

There Where The Tempest Will Never Be Sweeping Us,
Won’t It Be Wonderful There?
Sure That Forever The Lord Will Be Keeping Us,
Won’t It Be Wonderful There?

Our Work Until Then

We have been sanctified with a commission, sent on a calling, and issued a command.

We are to preach the Kingdom, knowing that Jesus the retuning king. We are to make disciples, warn sinners, be faithful, tell the wonder of the Word and we are to live in the sure hope or heaven.

Isn’t that a wonderful work? And wouldn’t it be the most terrible of losses to miss it and to miss the glory of God because we did not heed the message, nor hear the warning. Listen, once more and act, “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”