Introduce kids to the Savior of sinners. This is a series of audio podcasts for kids who want to meet with Jesus by using Meeting with Jesus: A Bible Reading Plan for Kids (RHB). Listen to previous episodes here.
Some people put preachers in place of Jesus. They end up admiring and following the preacher rather than Jesus. That’s not good for them, the preacher, or Jesus.
People admired and followed John the Baptist. John was preaching so powerfully that people started thinking he might be the promised Savior (15). As soon as John heard this rumor, he stopped it. He stopped it by explaining how the Savior would be far better than he was.
Jesus has greater power: “He who is mightier than I is coming” (16).
John says, “Compared to the Savior, I am weak.”
Jesus has greater position: “The strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie” (16).
John teaches, “Compared with the Savior, I am lower than the lowest servant.”
Jesus has greater cleansing: “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (16).
John explains, “I can only put water on the body, but the Savior will wash your heart.”
Jesus has greater judgment: “He will baptize you with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire” (16-17).
John warns, “I can only announce judgment, but the Savior will actually judge.”
Jesus has greater salvation: “To gather the wheat into his barn.”
John preaches, “I can only point you to salvation, the Savior will actually save.”
Faithful preachers point away from themselves to the Savior. Follow the finger of the faithful rather than the fame of a few. John had a faithful finger that never pointed to himself and never let anyone point to himself. Instead, he pointed faithfully to Jesus.
Listen to this episode on Living the Bible podcast. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and Spotify.