Psalms 16:2, 8:1, “Father, I Adore You” (Terrye Coelho-1972), and a few others.
My Shepherd met me in His green pastures foraging about in Luke 1-2. I noticed something in Luke 1:32-33, 1:76-79, and 2:13-14 that drew me into communion with the Holy Ghost, during which I gathered insights I want to share with you.
Luke 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
Luke 1:33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Luke 1:76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
Luke 1:77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
Luke 1:78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
Luke 1:79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Luke 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
First observation: Jesus would be called the “Son of the Highest,” and John the “prophet of the Highest” (Luke 1:2, 76). Jesus is the Son, and John His prophet.
Second observation: John the Baptist went before the face of the LORD to prepare His way to fulfill the mission of His first coming. That is why He declared Him “the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29, 36). The Father was presenting the Lamb.
Third, God sent His Son with the promise “on earth peace,” and John was sent to “guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 2:14; 1:79).
Fourth, Jesus declared, “I am the way” (John 14:6), and John was sent before to “prepare his ways” (Luke 1:76), so that He might “guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:77-79). When they came to John, he pointed to Christ (Acts 19:4; see John 1:19-23).
Fourth, Jesus is God manifest in the flesh, and the “Baptist” is His prophet. The Baptist prepares the “way” of the Lord’s return. Our message is “this gospel of the Kingdom” (Matthew 24:14), and we prepare the world for His return as King of kings and LORD of lords.
Along the still waters, I reflected on the above observations.
The Spirit upon John said, “Behold the LAMB,” and the Spirit upon today’s Baptist says, “Behold the KING.”
Jesus came, the LAMB of GOD, to die for our sins. Pilate delivered the LAMB to his soldiers, who beat Him with the cruel scourge, crowned Him with thorns, and mocked Him: “Hail, king of the Jews.” They returned Jesus to Pilate, who presented Him to the Jews, ripped and bloodied back, thorns piercing His brow, saying, “Behold your King” (John 19).
Pilate sent Him to be crucified, as God’s LAMB, and He died upon the cross to present our atonement to the Father for our sins. Three days after, He arose to declare Himself King (Romans 1:4; Matthew 28:18; Ephesians 1:12-21; Revelation 1:5).
He is now represented in the Throne Room as the LAMB “as it had been slain,” with seven eyes and horns, indicating the perfection, completion, and the universality of His rule (Revelation 5:6).
The Baptist today preaches “this gospel of the Kingdom” (Matthew 24:14) to prepare the earth for His return. Read Revelation 19:11-16.
Jesus came as Israel’s King to die as the LAMB of GOD for mankind. He returns as the LAMB that was slain to rule as GOD’s appointed and eternal KING over mankind.
In the valley, Jesus reminded me of the importance that I follow the example of the first Baptist, and always be willing to say, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). His call echoed in the hallowed chambers of my heart where His Spirit dwells: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). I sang, “All Hail King Jesus” (Dave Moody-1981).
At the table, my Shepherd anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace sufficient to supply all I required to pass through the evil He warned was sufficient to the day (2 Corinthians 12:9; Matthew 6:34). We went together into the harvest. I glanced back over my shoulder, and there they were, goodness and mercy following close.
Praying for revival! 🙏
Going live asap:
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