Scripture Reading: John 1:19-34
St. John was a good witness. He had a strange training. He was brought up, not in any school with human teachers, but in God’s school, in the wilderness, away from men. At last he came out ready to begin his work. His preaching had tremendous power. From near and far the people came in throngs to hear him, and they were deeply impressed by his words.
The effect produced by the Baptist’s work was so great that the authorities at Jerusalem felt it necessary to send a delegation to inquire into it. They claimed to have direction of the religious affairs of the nation, and wished to know the meaning of John’s work. These men asked John, “Who art thou?” There was a general unrest at the time, with much feverish excitement concerning the coming of the Messiah. There was a widespread feeling that this even was nigh at hand. The impression that John made upon the people was so great that many thought he might be the Messiah. If John had been so disposed, he might have claimed to be the One who was to come, and would have had a great following. But his loyalty to truth and to his Master forbade this, and he eagerly and with grief at the suggestion replied, “No, no; I am not the Christ.” They thought then that he must be some other great personage — Elijah, who was expected by the Jews as the forerunner of the Messiah, or “the prophet” — that is, the prophet “like unto Moses,” promised and vaguely looked for it. It was felt at least that this preacher by the Jordan was no ordinary man, He was a very great man, and his power as a preacher was startling.
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