Matt 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

We gain things in life, we lose things in life: jobs, people, positions & titles (within and without the church), houses, cars, health, liberties, freedoms, the respect of others, a good name, children, husband, wife, girlfriend, pet… we gain things and we lose things. The word of God is something that can never leave us. It will sustain us. It is always there as the greatest gift we can give to others – for it is through the word they will hear salvation(Rom 10:14). If we have nothing but the clothes on our backs, we can still give the word of God.

Key points covered:

• John didn’t have much. What made him the “greatest”?
• What do we have that John had?

John The Baptist (This study was originally title “John the Baptist was totally awwwesooome”, but was changed.)
John’s ministry probably lasted about 6 months. Around the age of 30, he typically should have followed after his father Zacharias’ footsteps in the priesthood. Instead, he had separated himself in the wilderness until the “word of the Lord comes to him”.

Luke 3:2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

John was the last Old Testament prophet (Jesus had not been crucified and resurrected yet). In fact, Jesus said that there was no greater prophet than John.

John 7:28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

Yet John did not perform any recorded miracles, and his ministry lasted only six months. Even so, Jesus calls John the “Greatest”, a high compliment. John had very few possessions, did not live a comfortable life, and devoted his life entirely to the short span of his ministry. The “word” that came unto John was really all he had, yet that was enough to make him the greatest. The word he had pointed others to Christ, and paved the way for the gift of salvation through Jesus. John never lost sight of his goal – to point others to Christ.

John basically dropped out of the wilderness and started his own mega church. John was a popular guy. He had baptized many. Then John’s cousin (Jesus) comes along and says “Thanks, I’ll take it from here. You go to prison and get beheaded because of a seductive dancer.” The point I’d like to make here is that John was willing to give up everything he had on the drop of a dime. He was able to do this because he never forgot the fact that everything he did, he did it to point people to Christ. The same should be true in our lives. If we are not willing to give it up for God, we don’t deserve it.

Another reason John was so great was because of his humility.

 If we are not willing to give it up for God, we don’t deserve it.

In Luke 3:16 we read: John answered, saying unto [them] all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

Back in those days, the people walked in sandals on roads that were  a mix of dirt, mud, animal feces and garbage. Factor that in with the hot sun and the already low appeal of sweaty feet is magnified. Removing someone’s sandals was not pleasant. Students did many things for their masters, but one of the things they would not do is remove their masters’ sandals. This task was reserved for the lowest of servants and slaves.

John is saying that he is not even worthy to be the lowest slave of Jesus. There is that much separation between the “greatest prophet of all time” and Jesus. John is great and humble. Jesus is far greater and even humbler. We read of Jesus literally washing is disciples’ feet, even Judas Iscariot’s.

John was humble enough to be able to focus solely on what mattered, the word of God. The word of God came to John. The word of God has come to us.

The word of God came to John. The word of God has come to us.

John 17:11-20

11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

Verse 14 says he gave us his word, and the world has hated us because of it. God’s word in us is the separation factor. Verse 17 says that the word is truth. God gives us his saving word, we read in verse 20 that others should believe on Christ through the word he has given us. Just as John, everything we do should point others to Christ. In the midst of any circumstance, the word of God remains constant, the word of God is accessible to us. In fact, it is sometimes when everything else is stripped away, that the word of God (truth, vs 17) stands out the clearest.

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