CHRIST testified to John’s great work by saying, “But wherefore went ye out? to see a prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send My messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee. Verily I say unto you, among them that are born of women there hath not arisen a greater than John the Baptist.” Matt. 11:9-11.
Then we have the testimony of Jesus as to the authorship of John’s work, in His pointed reply to the Pharisee’s question as to His own authority for doing the deeds He did: “And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one question, which if ye tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven or from men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; He will say unto us, Why then did ye not believe him? But if we shall say, From men; we fear the multitude; for all hold John as a prophet.” Matt. 21:24-26. From this it is clearly shown that John’s work was acknowledged by the Son of God as from heaven, and that he was authorized to do his work by the same One who gave the Son power and authority for doing His.
Christ’s Mission and Work.
The Son of God—of heavenly and earthly birth combined—quickly followed the preaching of John the Baptist with His great work. Of Him it is written, “No man ever spake like this Man?” The words of life ever flowed from His divine-human lips. Mighty works were performed to witness to the truths He proclaimed, that they were from the Father. The blind received their sight, the deaf were made to hear, the dead were restored in the bloom of health unto their bereaved loved ones. The stamp of divinity was placed upon His work, that no soul could truly deny the authorship of His mission. He spake openly in the places for public congregation, He taught the multitudes by the seashore, upon the mountainside, and in secret He did nothing. He became the honored Guest around the family board, as well as at feasts where invited friends assembled; and everywhere, upon all occasions, precious instruction, containing the living principles of God’s holy law, fell like refreshing showers from His lips. Even the individual inquirer was not ignored. Alone, at night, the great Nicodemus, the teacher and counselor in Israel, received instruction from Him who was the greatest Teacher earth ever knew.
But at last His earthly mission of teaching was over. He finished the work given Him of His Father to do, and then, as a lamb dumb before its shearers, He was wickedly condemned, and led forth without the city of Jerusalem to be executed as a malefactor. The great truth must not be lost sight of, however, that Jesus Christ did work for eternity; that all the words falling from His holy lips were words His Father authorized Him to utter, and by which men must be judged at last, whether they believe them or believe them not. Because proud men rejected His work, because of His being a Nazarene, a humble carpenter, on the earthly side born of a poor woman, detracts not an atom from the great truth that He was the promised Messiah, the long-looked-for Saviour, the great Redeemer of our race.
The Gift of God in the Early Outpouring of His Spirit.
On the day of His ascension, Jesus bade His disciples go back to Jerusalem, and there tarry until endued with power from on high. With great joy they obeyed. During these ten days of waiting they confessed their sins—acts committed in seeking honor one of another, in desiring the best places, in a spirit of rivalry, with its attendant evils. They cleared the King’s highway by thorough repentance. After ten days thus seeking God, the longed-for promise was fulfilled. “And when the day of Pentecost was now come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder, like as of fire; and it sat upon each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling at11Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.” Acts 2:1-5.
When Peter spoke that day, 3,000 souls were added to the church, such as should be saved. Many in this company had heard both John and Jesus. They were familiar with their mighty works, and, really, this day’s addition to the church was but the legitimate fruit of their labors.
But those dwelling at Jerusalem who had rejected the words of John the Baptist and of the Son of Man, did not share in this outpouring of the Spirit from heaven. They counted it as coming from a Satanic source. This is made very clear from the fact that they were the chief persecutors of these very men upon whom it had fallen. In the book of Acts is recorded some of the mighty deeds of God, through human instrumentality, as the result of this wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit.
The Result of Failing to Accept God's Messages.
Those who received John’s preaching were prepared to receive Christ’s, and those who received Him as the Son of God, were thus prepared to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.
Those who rejected the work of John the Baptist, were likewise led not only to reject the solemn work of the Son of God, but to crucify Him, and thus proved themselves wholly unprepared to receive the baptism of power for service on the day of Pentecost.
Upon His ascension, ten days before the day of Pentecost, Jesus entered upon His great work of ministry in the first apartment of the sanctuary in heaven. But those who received not the refreshing in the gift of the Spirit that day, knew it not. “The Holy Spirit this signifying, that the way into the holy place hath not yet been made manifest, while the first tabernacle is yet standing.” Heb. 9:8.
Thus those who failed to receive the Holy Spirit, went on with their senseless round of tabernacle service, not realizing that God was not there at all, that their house was left unto them desolate by Him whose presence heretofore had made it holy. The rent veil at the entrance unto the holy apartment was meaningless to them.
It is plain to be seen, therefore, that the work of John was necessary; the instruction and work of Jesus, imperative; and that these were in love bestowed upon the church by the Father in heaven, that its members might be prepared to enter personally into God’s plan, through the impartation of the Holy Spirit, to go forth to the world with the great Gospel message of salvation.
All this is recorded that we, upon whom the ends of the world have come, by studying the words and works of God in the giving of the early rain, may become familiar with events which are to prepare His people for the reception of the last great gift, to be given in the latter rain, to the church, as spoken of by the prophet Joel.
