*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*
*'OLDER' THAN GOD (5).*
*Scripture Treasure.*
In Matt 17:10-13
*And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?*
*And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.*
*But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.*
*Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.*
*Insight and Highlight.*
No matter how endowed we are, we remain nothing without God.
*Scripture Commentaries.*
John was *'.....filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.*, Luke 1:15. He had human Kingdom privileges and was well equipped by God.
John came as a forerunner. This was all he knew, but there was more to him than he knew.
We can learn further from the Jesus and John relationship.
First, John the Apostle wrote that the people did not know who John was. He wrote that they came to ask *Who art thou?*, John 1:19.
One of such questions bordered on whether he was Christ or Elias to which *....he answered, No.*, John 1:20.
Jesus came to clear their assumptions and questions.
John had an identity in Elijah. He did not know, but Jesus knew.
Jesus told the people that John the Baptist was Elijah because he ministered *“in the spirit and power of Elijah.”*, Luke 1:16-17
John knew who Jesus was, John 1:29. John came after Elijah. He said to the people that he was not Elijah, John 1:21, but Jesus said he was Elijah, Matt 11:14.
Though we know ourselves, there are times we need to ask God to tell us who we are before Him.
Second, besides not knowing he was Elijah, John's inability to cope in distress made him questionable, but good enough, it was only before Jesus. Rather than put him down before the people, Jesus esteemed him.
Stress and challenges may have made John doubt who Jesus was (Matt 11:2-3). Jesus's disciples, however, connected the dots to know that when Jesus was referring to Elijah, He was also talking about John the Baptist, Matt 17:13.
The truth to learn from here is that Jesus knows who we are, but challenges often make us struggle concerning Jesus's identity and power to deliver.
We carry power, but challenges may rob us to believe we do not. Jesus knew John had come in the spirit and power of Elijah, John was looking to be delivered by the spirit and power that he already had.
This was why Jesus was telling two of John's disciples whom John had sent to ask Jesus if He was the one *'....who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”*.
Jesus told them to go back to John to tell him what they had seen and heard: *....The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.* Luke 7:17-20.
Jesus, who knew the heart of John and how it was indicating a fall away due to his challenges with Herod, said , *"....Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.”*, Luke 7:21.
Though John was falling away, Jesus nevertheless told the people how esteemed John was, Luke 7:24- 28, Matt 11:8-10.
Jesus knows our fallen state, but He still reserves how esteemed we are before Him and the people.
Though we may exhibit some lack of faith, He does not expose our nakedness before the people (ref Isaiah 42:3).
Let us learn that Jesus has our backs.
In spite of the Holy Spirit's emphasis on John being six months in gestation before Jesus was conceived, John was not made perfect without Jesus.
Falling away knows no boundaries.
Older in age is not a measure of spiritual maturity. Though John was older and was in the spirit and power of Elijah, yet he fainted in the day of adversity.
*Remorse Corner.*
Ask for spiritual maturity. It speaks more than any age bracket!
*Call to Word action.*
Prov 24: 10 *If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.*
*The Christian clarion duty.*
At times, it is not how old, but how well.
*Prayer.*
Lord, grant me the spiritual strength to withstand and overcome any physical challenge in Jesus name.
Good morning all, and have a blessed day today.
God bless you.
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