Good Saturday morning! Okay, many folks are out of town this morning, but we will soldier on with the devotional just the same. I woke up to clouds, cool temps, and a drizzle this morning. The airport thing I mentioned yesterday might be delayed a bit... too bad I got up early for it. Someone set up a tent full of little girls across the street. Oh, the screeching that went on last night. I think they were worn out and quiet by 2100 though, which is better for us older folks. Of course, most of the population is older than the little girls across the street. A sleep-over party in a tent outside usually loses its popularity with girls around the age of 13, or maybe it's just the parents who lose their taste for teenage outside adventures at about that age in their children.
Today: He's back! It's our old friend John the Baptist from back in the first chapter.
At this time John the Baptist was baptizing at Aenon, near Salim, because there was plenty of water there; and people kept coming to him for baptism. John 3:23
What is remarkable about this verse is that either the country was in the dry part of the year, or it was in another drought. Whatever the case, apparently John the Baptist had moved his ministry to find water. We don't know where these places are today, but the two places give us a historical reference to use. My Bible footnotes don't have anything on Aenon or Salim, and in a way I'm kind of glad as it's still dark out and I haven't yet learned to turn the lights on for my devotional. Give it month or so and I will have to use lights again to type in the morning.
The other interesting thing John mentions about John the Baptist is that people kept coming to him. Why is this so remarkable? Jesus was there! Why would you go to the messenger when the King had arrived? We know from our verses thus far that belief in Jesus had not yet taken root in many hearts, but many would still go to John for a baptism it seems. I am reminded of a testimony we read last week. Getting baptized is fairly easy even for an unbeliever. We know that the ceremony is supposed to be a public declaration of salvation, but in many cases the baptism is simply performed without qualification. For an unbeliever a baptism may mean no more than a quick bath at an unusual location. John the Baptist should have been done baptizing by this time as people went instead to Jesus. I think this is what prompted John the disciple's comment here. A sort of wondering comment on why people would still be seeking out John the Baptist when the Son of God was among them, and as we read yesterday, performing baptisms as well.
Saturday is upon us; use the day for God's glory!
Bucky
No comments:
Post a Comment