The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

John 1:19-23, “And this is the witness of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

20 And he confessed, and did not deny, and he confessed, “I am not the Christ.”

21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”

22 They said then to him, “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”

23 He said, “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”

When you really get down to the root of it, there are only two basic kinds of questioners: One is sincere and really

wants to know what you know. The other is insincere, doesn’t know what you know, but wants you to think that what he knows is better than what you know. One is a sincere seeker; the other is only argumentative. John the Baptist encountered both, but the latter (the insincere), those who had come from the priests and the Levites, were contentious and obnoxious.

John, on the other hand, kept his composure and responded graciously to his inquirers. Politely (as we interpret his replies), he responds saying, “I am not the Christ…I am not (Elijah or the Prophet). I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord’ (just as Isaiah said).”

What we can profitably draw from this passage should be self-evident. Those who approach us regarding our beliefs, or those whom we approach with a witness for Christ Jesus, are either sincere and wanting to know, or they are insincere and want to endlessly debate. The latter seek debate as a means of self-extraction from the guilt of sin. Some of them know they are outside of God’s will. If they can “defeat” the one witnessing for Jesus, they feel less guilty, if guilty at all. But, in this they are self-defeating because “defeating a witness is not extraction from sin. It takes the love and blood of Jesus to deliver them.

So, how should we behave in such a situation? What did John the Baptist do? He refused to be ruffled. He spoke

Truth in love. He stood his ground in the Prophet Isaiah. John was not the Savior, yet he had fulfilled his responsibility in witnessing. Can you behave like that? Most definitely you can! He cared for his questioners, but their insincerity barred them from the Truth. Be like John! Don’t get discouraged. You were not called to “win” them, but to witness of the One who could. May the blessed LORD both ground and guide you is my prayer.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”