I was studying the Bible one morning and reading in John chapter 1. As I read, I thought to myself, “Thank God John the Baptist never heeded warnings not to point!”
Look what his pointing led to…
John 1:29-50 says, “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, “A man who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.” I myself did not know Him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel.’ Then John gave this testimony: ‘I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on Him. And I myself did not know Him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, “The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.” I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.’ The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God!’ When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, ‘What do you want?’ They said, ‘Rabbi’ (which means ‘Teacher’), ‘where are you staying?’ ‘Come,’ He replied, ‘and you will see.’ So they went and saw where He was staying, and they spent that day with Him. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas’ (which, when translated, is Peter). The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, ‘We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’ ‘Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?’ Nathanael asked. ‘Come and see,’ said Philip. When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, He said of him, ‘Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.’ ‘How do you know me?’ Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, ‘I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.’ Then Nathanael declared, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.’ Jesus said, ‘You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.’ He then added, ‘Very truly I tell you, you will see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.’” (NIV)
Don’t you just love the pointing that is happening here? John pointed to Jesus saying, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!” Then John went on to share his testimony. The next day John saw Jesus passing by again, and he draws the attention of the two disciples with him and says, “Look the Lamb of God!” Immediately, at the sound of John’s voice, the two disciples turn and follow Jesus. As he followed Jesus, the first thing Andrew did as one of the two disciples there with John the Baptist, was to go to his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah,” and he brought him to Jesus! The next day, Jesus left Galilee and found Philip and said, “Follow me.” Philip found Nathanael and told him about finding Jesus. Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.”
Look at the ripple effect that took place because John the Baptist spoke up and said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” John took the focus off Him and redirected it to Jesus. Earlier in the chapter in John 1:22-23 we read, “Finally they said, ‘Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?’ John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, ‘I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, “Make straight the way for the Lord!'”
Are you pointing fingers these days? I hope your answer is yes, and the One you are pointing to is King Jesus—the Lamb of God. I do not mean pointing fingers in a way that you are going to give Him a good ol’ talking to, but you are putting Jesus in everyone’s sightline! Who is around you that can hear you say….”Look, the Lamb of God?” Are you pointing?
How can you make Monumental Moments and live to multiply His movement today?
