““I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’” (John 1:33 NAS95).
Listen. Be quiet. Hear the stillness. I wonder how John the Baptist received so specific a message so as to recognize Jesus as the messiah-King? He descended from a line of Levitical priests and his birth followed from miraculous events in his family. He came from a godly heritage and probably learned very early in his life about prayer from his parents. Obviously they shared with him the story of Gabriel's conversation with Zachariah and events that followed. John knew God spoke and intervened. I imagine he expected it, primarily because the story of his birth reminded him of this as well as contained news of his purpose and mission.
Maybe the context of his life aroused a deep hunger to search the Scriptures. We know that John spent time in the wilderness. How much time remains unclear. However, we know that alone in the wilderness, amidst the silence, stillness and solitude, John heard the word of God. Did this occur through meditation on the Scriptures? In the silence of listening and seeking God? Who can say how? John did hear, and what he heard pointed very specifically to Jesus. The precision of what John understood allowed him to unmistakably recognize Jesus as the messiah. All we know indicates he heard in the wilderness, in solitude, stillness and quiet. There he could listen in prayer. Through John's story, I am challenged to make space, listen, and expect God. How about you?
For Reflection:
“So Jacob named the place where God had spoken with him, Bethel.” (Genesis 35:15 NAS95)
- What helps you to prepare or still your heart in order to seek and receive from God?
- What characterized those times when you were sure you heard from God?
