Page 122 - Maranatha (1976)

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“Behold the Lamb of God”, April 19
Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
John 1:29
.
John had by nature the faults and weaknesses common to humanity; but
the touch of divine love had transformed him. When, after Christ’s ministry
began, the disciples of John came to him with the complaint that all men
were following the new Teacher, John showed how clearly he understood
his relation to the Messiah, and how gladly he welcomed the One for whom
he had prepared the way.
“A man can receive nothing,” he said, “except it be given him from
heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but
that I am sent before him.... This my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must
increase, but I must decrease.”
John 3:27-30
.
Looking in faith to the Redeemer, John had risen to the height of self-
abnegation. He sought not to attract men to himself, but to lift their thoughts
higher and still higher, until they should rest upon the Lamb of God. He
himself had been only a voice, a cry in the wilderness. Now with joy he
accepted silence and obscurity, that the eyes of all might be turned to the
Light of life.
Those who are true to their calling as messengers for God will not
seek honor for themselves. Love for self will be swallowed up in love for
Christ. They will recognize that it is their work to proclaim, as did John
the Baptist: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the
world.”
John 1:29
. They will lift up Jesus, and with Him humanity will be
lifted up....
The soul of the prophet, emptied of self, was filled with the light of the
Divine.... He bore witness to the Saviour’s glory.... In this glory of Christ,
all His followers are to share.... We can receive of heaven’s light only as
we are willing to be emptied of self. We can discern the character of God,
and accept Christ by faith, only as we consent to the bringing into captivity
of every thought to the obedience of Christ. To all who do this, the Holy
Spirit is given without measure. In Christ “dwelleth all the fulness of the
Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him.”
Colossians 2:9, 10
.
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