Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.
And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”
John testifies to something that he experienced with his own eyes. He also testifies about “the one who sent me…” referring to his own conversation with God.
Q: Is John the Baptist a credible witness? Why or why not?
It’s amazing to me that John the Baptist spoke with God and announced the coming of the Savior, but did not boast of receiving such privileges. His humbleness speaks to my heart of his credibility.
He was filled with the Holy Spirit while in the womb.
He was beheaded as a result of his ministry for God.
Jesus Christ Himself said Luke 7:28 ” I tell you, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John”. We can take Johns witness to the bank.
Well,..I believe his testimony is credible,..it is in the bible for a reason,..and the work of God is that we may believe is Him who He has sent,..God works through people and John the Baptist just happens to be one of those people God has worked through.
Good job John.
Great comments as always! Thanks!!
As I thought about John in his hair suit and leather belt it seemed to me that at first glance he must have looked like a crazy man. Yet look at all the people who were moved to repentance by him! He must have been a powerful personality with the ability to look into a person’s inner self. For me his credibility stems from his effect on people and the results of his words.
I believe John the Baptist a credible witness because of the way he lived his life and his approach to the ministry. John emerged from the desert baptizing and preaching repentance. He had disciples and he had high religious leaders coming to interview him. It would have been easy to feel “elevated” or of “greater stature.” Instead John became even more humble and directed all attention to Christ.
John 1:27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.
John 3:25-27 Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification. And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!” John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.”
John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
I read this phrase in some research “To thank God for our successes follows the witness of John—Christ increases, and we decrease.” “when we decrease and allow Christ to increase in us, we in fact increase spiritually.”
The way we truly live our life is our greatest witness. John emulated that in his humility.
Chris,
OOPS! Sorry! Somehow I missed seeing your comment and did not release it until today.
I think you hit the nail on the head. You write, “John the Baptist a credible witness because of the way he lived his life…” It is really hard to accuse someone who lives in the desert wearing itchy camel hair clothes and eating bugs for dinner of being a grifter.
John was authentic. God had claimed him for a special purpose and John was faithful to that purpose. That showed in who he was.
Thank you!