Good foggy Wednesday morning! I have noticed in my photographic journeys that weather makes the sky interesting. A blue sky is great for many things, but in a photo it's kind of, "so what?" On the other hand, our big sky holds a lot of weather, and that makes for interesting photography. The conditions I like to whine about, are often the best for learning my new trade. Don't worry about the clear days though, the light is good for travel and for taking photos of stuff on the ground. I hear work starting up already for someone 'oer yonder. The noise of a saw resounds across the morning quiet.
This morning, what was that debate about anyway? Ceremonial washing?
So John's disciples came to him and said, "Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us." John 3:26
See that! People in the Bible are allowed to whine too. Of course, you knew that already. David pours out his heart in the Psalms, Moses once complained to the Lord, "What am I to do with these people!", and even the disciples will ask, "Who then can be saved?" Complaining is a part of our fallen condition. God is more than capable of fielding our complaints and responding to them. Here we read how John the Baptist's disciples come running to him with a complaint. The important thing will be John's response, but we don't have that yet. How many times in your life have you been made to wait on the Lord's response? Quite often I imagine, the Lord often teaches us patience by having us wait for the answer. Many times the thing we are complaining about will work itself out in time. Even in our complaints though, we can give a message of hope.
Take apart this complaint. John still had disciples following him, even after pointing out the Messiah. These disciples remember the one John pointed out as the Messiah, but apparently didn't believe in either Jesus or the words of the man they were following. The disciples complained that everybody was going to Jesus. I think we know what John's answer will be, but his disciples didn't want to believe in the Messiah it would seem. Even in their whining though, the message is still there: The Messiah is here and he is baptizing people! Praise God that even in complaining we might give someone a reason to hope.
When Jesus returns, I hope that everyone will stop reading anything that I write, listening to anything their ministers have to say, and turns their eyes from the evangelists on television to look at, listen to, and celebrate the risen Son of God. We also know that when Jesus returns, we won't have to wonder if it is really him or not. The disciples of John the Baptist did have some reason for doubt given their expectations of the Messiah, but we will have no reason to doubt at the second coming of Christ.
Have a wonderful Wednesday in Christ!
Bucky
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