Jesus and John Part I

Jesus and John Part 1

Jesus, the cousin of John the Baptist, walked in this world at a time when He was the only express image of God on the earth. Though John was born full of the Spirit, he was not born of it. Jesus was the first begotten of the Father. Though they were only six months apart in age, they both had profound ministries that were destined to intersect.

This intersection took place at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry as He left Nazareth and went to the Jordan River to be baptized by John.

Matthew 3:13-17

13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

John 3:22-24

22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.

23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.

24 For John was not yet cast into prison.

Jesus was in Judea baptizing (although His disciples did the actual baptisms), while John was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, which is in the state of Decapolis, next to Samaria. It is very interesting to note John was not sent to preach the gospel in Samaria. The first time this message came to them was when Jesus met the woman at the well. After that, it was Phillip, who was chosen to go to Samaria to preach and baptize.

John 3:25-26

25 Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.

26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.

Here we have John in Aenon, baptizing and declaring the coming of the Messiah. But Jesus is down in Judea preaching and baptizing. But as God would have it, more people began to follow Jesus than John. Nevertheless, the devil is always the devil. The Jews used the subject of purifying (baptism), to inform John’s disciples of the fact that Jesus was in Judea making disciples which were beginning to outnumber John.

So, some of John’s disciples came to him with this piece of information; “The one who once submitted to you, whom you bore witness of, is now preaching, baptizing, and recruiting more followers than you.” It is for this cause, that leaders are to have integrity in the gospel. This integrity will allow him or her to never lose sight of what God is doing. As we can see from his response, John never lost sight of God nor his own purpose.

John 3:27

27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

It is the Father who is directing souls to Jesus. It is the work of God that is being done through Him. He will have that which God has given over to Him. His congregation is appointed by God. Jesus also understood this principle… I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word (John 17:6).

John 3:28

28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. You heard me say, “I am not the Christ. I was sent to prepare the way for him.

This is the hardest thing for some who desire ministry to accept. There are others who have a different measure or calling, anointing, and sphere of influence. They will be anointed to do things that you will not be able to do. How hard is it for a minister to say of another, “I am not anointed to do what ‘Minister X’ can do, or ‘Minister Y’ has been given a greater measure than I.

Furthermore, ‘Minister Z’ has a greater understanding of the word than I do.” Peter also exemplified integrity in his ministry, which can be seen in his testimony of the apostle Paul, wherein he validated his own teachings by reminding them of the writings Paul sent to them concerning suffering…And accounts ...that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction (2 Peter 3:15-16). Peter was in no way envious or jealous of Paul. He realized that God was using Paul in ways that he himself may not be used. Paul was given the honor of writing at least fourteen books of the New Testament, a feat one would have expected to be given to one of the first twelve disciples. But they recognized this as the will of God.

Therefore, they learned from the wisdom given to Paul, and used it in their individual ministries. John 3:29; He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. It is important to know those who labor among us. This is necessary, not only because some may be novice or intentionally unrighteous; but also because some may have wisdom or knowledge we do not have.

John 3:30; He must increase, but I must decrease.

This is the mindset that agrees with God. John knew who Jesus was. He knew and understood his role in the Master’s life. He was in no way inclined to compete with, or withhold from Jesus, those whom God had ordained to follow Him. He was at peace with doing his part, knowing that he had pleased the Father. He never saw his decrease as compared to Jesus’ increase, as a negative. Instead, he declared it to be the will of God, and the fulfilling of scripture. Furthermore, those whom God has chosen to work the ministry of reconciliation, must understand and acknowledge their place in the Body. You must be able to see your purpose and place in ministry.

1 Corinthians 12:25-26

25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it

Each member of the Body of Christ has its place and use. In kingdom servitude, each member of the Body is distinct in its place to serve, its duties, and its powers. Though each member is distinct in duty and power, there should be no schisms (divisions caused by differences of opinions or beliefs), in the Body of Christ. We have all been made to drink of the same Spirit, therefore, our speech and judgments should all be the same. It is also necessary that we be helpers one to the other. From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love (Ephesians 4:16).

The working of ministry is the manifestation of the Holy Ghost.

1 Corinthians 12:7-14

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

14 For the body is not one member, but many

It is important that our perceptions of ministry be correct. Therefore, I thank God for His foresight and foreknowledge. He knew there would be those who would either willingly or ignorantly pervert the administrations of the gifts. There are those who believe that whole churches have but one function in the Body. For instance: A pastor of a local church may function primarily as a prophet. Therefore, most of his ministry is given over to prophecy and prophesying to his membership. We all know that prophesying in the Body of Christ is a calling card for soliciting membership. But the scriptures submit to us that the pastorate is not the office of the prophet, nor is the prophet’s station a place for the pastor. If the pastorate is given over to the prophetic gift, then where is the nurturing and spiritual development of the flock?

Likewise, the pastorate is not the place of the teacher. The dispensing of knowledge alone cannot raise the sons of God. Wherein the teacher is gifted to teach, he or she may not be equipped to provide long term spiritual care, guidance, and ministerial management to the entire flock.

Jesus is the Chief Apostle and Shepherd; who came to lay down His life for the sheep. John was the prophet standing in the room to make the sheep ready to receive the shepherd. Each knew his place and purpose and they never competed or confused the two manifestations of the Holy Ghost. They both honored and respected the order set by the Father.

One Body, Many Members

There is another perversion that has become very common in the Body of Christ. For the body is not one member, but many. (1 Co. 12:14). Satan has been very successful at perverting this concept in the minds and hearts of many who attempt to work ministry. But God knew this would be the case, so He warned us beforehand.

1 Corinthians 12:15-16

15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

At first glance of these passages we see that a part of the body can become discouraged because it is not able to do that which another part of the Body can do. In such a case, the son of God has not identified his or her place in the Body, nor does he or she realize their personal value in the ministry of reconciliation. Such a one’s focus is on the functionings of the other parts and not the place God has positioned them to serve in. There is no place in the Body of Christ where one of its members can reside that has no value. Serve and be faithful in whatever is set before you, and God will do the rest. Remember, it is God, the Father who places us in the Body as it pleases Him.You are where you are for a reason. Function there in all that is set before you and your ministry will be established through submission, faithfulness, and spiritual character.

There are also those who believe that because they are the Prophet, or the Evangelist, then that means they have no need to be attached to the rest of the Body. But this is equally damaging to Christian ministry. They must consider 1 Corinthians 12:14; For the body is not one member, but many. They must know assuredly that the Father has given order to the many parts and gifts in the Body of Christ. Therefore, God will never sanction ministry that perverts the order He Himself set for the Body. The Head of the Body is Christ; From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love (Ephesians 4:16).

Without this attachment to the rest of the Body, we forfeit the supply of other parts, which were designed to edify and increase us. Over the years, I have been accused of being disconnected from the rest of the Body. But that is not the heart of this ministry. I have fellowshipped with other ministers over the past 35 years. However, I do believe in knowing those who labor among us, and I will not mix the manna.

1 Corinthians 1:10 instructs us in this matter:

10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Ministry must be pure and unpolluted if it is to produce true sons of God. To be cautious in this is to exemplify care for the flock. When that is your true heart, God will cause your path to intersect with others in the Body who are of the same mind and heart.

1 Corinthians 12:17-18

17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

I hope you will consider the mind of John and Jesus as you begin to access ministry in the Body of Christ. If I had a spiritual megaphone, I would ask the Body of Christ, “Does anybody care that it is the Father who has set the gifts in the Body?” It is His order and His alone. Let us keep this forever before us.