Scripture: St. John 3:22-36 (NKJV)
22 After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and
there He remained with them and baptized.
23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much
water there. And they came and were baptized. 24 For John had not yet been
thrown into prison. 25 Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s
disciples and the Jews about purification. 26 And they came to John and said to
him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have
testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!” 27 John answered
and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from
heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’
but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom;
but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly
because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. 30
He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 He who comes from above is above all;
he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from
heaven is above all. 32 And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and
no one receives His testimony. 33 He who has received His testimony has
certified that God is true. 34 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of
God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. 35 The Father loves the Son,
and has given all things into His hand. 36 He who believes in the Son has
everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but
the wrath of God abides on him.”
Devotion
Today we have a text which elaborates upon the age-old question, “how is man
saved?” Our question surfaced when John’s disciples ask him about the One Who
was with you before, is now baptizing, and everyone seems to be running after
Him! “We’ve followed you, how can this be?” they are asking. John quickly
clears the air for them by saying, “A man can receive nothing unless it has
been given to him from heaven.”
With these words we see that if anything that is right, pure, and salutary in
the sight of God must come from God. For what saves, must be commanded by God.
Immediately John sees that the end of His ministry—of pointing to Who the
Christ is—has come to an end. Therefore, his joy is fulfilled, which means all
things must now point to Christ and away from John.
Today we are still faced with the question within the Church regarding
salvation. Here we must remember and follow after John the Baptist’s example,
and remember that if something is in dispute, ask whether it has been given by
God in Christ. Has it been instituted by God, practiced by God, delivered by
God for the sake of purifying mankind? If not run in the opposite direction.
For if a teaching is not from Christ, it is from Satan, who is the father of
lies.
So how is man saved? There is only one answer: Christ!.
We Pray: Christ, the Victim undefiled, Alleluia! God and man hath reconciled,
Alleluia! While in strange and awe-full strife, Alleluia! Met together Death
and Life: Alleluia! Amen.
The Lutheran Herald is a publication of the Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of
North America. These daily devotions are authored by the bishop, pastors, and
deacons of the diocese. Direct inquiries to The Reverend Jeffrey A. Ahonen at
[email protected].
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