Daily Devotions
John
Jesus in comparison with John the Baptiser
Text: John 1:1-18
JESUS IN COMPARISON WITH JOHN THE BAPTISER
John had the highest regard for Jesus. In order to help his readers appreciate the magnificence of Jesus, John quietly compared Him with two outstanding personalities.
The first personality Jesus was compared with was a contemporary person. John was a well respected person in the community. He was acknowledged as a great preacher. Some regarded him as a prophet of God. Those who were touched by his powerful message responded to him by being baptized by him. Some of them went so far as to become his disciples.
How did Jesus fare in comparison? John carefully noted that no matter how great John may be, and how well regarded he may be by the community at large, he was still…
“(ONLY) a man, sent from God…”
John 1:6
He could not describe John the baptizer much further. John was certainly
“NOT that Light,
but was sent (ONLY) to bear witness of that Light.”
John 1:8
The popular, contemporary John paled in comparison to Jesus. No other contemporary could even be raised for comparison.
JESUS IN COMPARISON WITH MOSES
John then went on to compare Jesus with a historical personality. The Jews had the highest regard for Moses, and rightly so. The Scriptures had this to say about Moses,
“Hear now My words:
If there is a prophet among you,
I, the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision;
I speak to him in a dream.Not so with My servant Moses;
He is faithful in all My House.I speak with him face to face.
Even plainly, and not in dark sayings;
And he sees the form of the LORD…”
Numbers 12:6-8
Let us look at another passage that paid high tribute to Moses.
“But since then there has not arisen in Israel
a prophet like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,
in all the signs and wonders which the LORD
sent him to do in the land of Egypt…”
Deuteronomy 34:10-11
Moses’ contribution to the growth and development of Israel is difficult to fully describe in just a few words. He was the one sent to deliver Israel out of bondage. He was the one who laid the foundation for Israel to function as a cohesive nation, with the finest set of laws ever! How did this great servant of God compare with Jesus? Let us consider what John wrote.
“For the law was given through Moses,
but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son,
Who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.”
John 1:17-18
Moses may have been a mighty prophet, but he was but a “SERVANT”. God declared him to be a faithful servant, but he was only just a servant. However, Jesus was much more. He was “The only begotten Son”.
Moses was close to God. He was even given a very rare privilege. God spoke to him “face to face”. But even then he could only see “the form of God”. However, Jesus was “in the bosom of the Father”.
No one has ever seen God, not even Moses. Jesus on the other hand was in the very bosom of God! Only Jesus stood in that unique relationship with God.
Moses could teach God’s Word powerfully. However, at the end of the day, he could only teach and explain the Word of God “rigidly.” His teachings became “the law” to the nation of Israel, little more than that. However, when Jesus expounded the Word of God, the words that He used were filled with a special quality. John used the phrase, “grace and truth” to describe the Word that He preached.
What a contrast we have! The magnificence of the beauty and majesty that was Jesus’ could not have been better portrayed than to compare Him with Moses!
THE SPECIAL WAY IN WHICH JESUS TAUGHT ABOUT GOD
There are many ways in which we could teach the Word of God. We could do the following:-
1. By rote
Some teachers insist on getting their pupils to memorise God’s Word. It does not take much skill to teach this way, just a powerful will exercised over pupils.
2. By explaining
This is the real work of a teacher. He tries to explain the meaning and significance of the lessons he is teaching. The teacher who is creative would fare well. Great skill is needed.
3. By “declaration”
This term is really quite special. The word in the Greek text is where we get the English word “exegete”. Jesus knew God so well that He could draw full meaning from the deepest knowledge and then expound it with full authority! That was the special way in which Jesus taught! Nobody else could ever “exegete God”! Only Jesus, the Son of God!