A MIGHTIER THAN JOHN
‘And as the people were in expectation … John answered … one mightier than I cometh.…’
From these verses several practical truths emerge.
I. One effect of a faithful ministry is to set men thinking.—‘The people … mused in their hearts.’ The cause of true religion has gained a great step in a parish, or congregation, or family, when people begin to think.
II. A faithful minister will always exalt Christ.—The Baptist refused the honour which he saw the people ready to give him, and referred them to Him who had ‘the fan in His hand,’ the Lamb of God, the Messiah. Conduct like this will always be the characteristic of a true man of God. He will never allow anything to be credited to him, or his office, which belongs to his Divine Master.
III. There is an essential difference between the Lord Jesus and even the best and holiest of His ministers.—We have it in the solemn words of John the Baptist: ‘I indeed baptize you with water; He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.’ A Paul may sow, an Apollos may water, but it is God Who giveth the increase.
IV. The change that Christ will work in His visible Church at His second appearing.—We read in the figurative words of His forerunner, ‘that He will thoroughly purge His floor, and gather the wheat into His garner; but the chaff He will burn with fire unquenchable.’ The visible Church is now a mixed body; but there will be an awful separation at the last day.