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Study Insights: John the Baptist and Andrew the Disciple
by Bobby Bruno John the Baptist Why were we born? Was it to live life for life's sake; for our own enjoyment? Or were we born to serve a purpose; a purpose we were supposed to grow into as we went from birth to death? Why did Jesus save us? Was it so we could only know and be excited that we were now on our way to Heaven? Or were we to take this excitement and use it for a greater purpose; a purpose to affect the lives of others for the sake of the Cross? John the Baptist was born to proclaim the Word of God; to let the masses know that Jesus, the Son of God, was coming to take away the sins of the world. The boldness of John, no matter what people said of him, could not be extinguished. He spoke the truth without apology and without backing down even to Herod and his adulteress, Herodias! Yes, he was beheaded, but not by the seemingly seeking Herod, but by Herodias, who couldn't stand hearing John's words that spiked the guilt in her seared conscious. John proclaimed Jesus only. As far as John was concerned, he only existed to pave the way for Jesus' first coming. Why else would he wear an itchy, camel hair robe and eat insects for dinner? John was willing to sacrifice everything he had and was to the task of fulfilling his purpose on the earth to show the people that a way was coming where their sins could be forgiven, and their lives could be restored back to the God they had turned away from. As John did, we should also be willing to give up all we have and are to proclaim the exciting truth that God wants a restored relationship with every human being He had created. John spared nothing, not even his life, to get that message across to those who wanted more out of life than a meager existence, and to those whose hearts were telling them that their lives could be more if they but turned them over to God. Andrew In reading the study of Andrew, I look back on my own conversion and see how God used a woman named Rita to bring me to Him. One simple phone call from her to me, a stranger she met at a party, one simple lunch the next day, where one simple mention of the name of Jesus Christ along with her testimony, was all I needed to find salvation in the Lord. Just as Andrew brought his brother, Rita brought me. And then, without me knowing it, she told my testimony to three teenagers at her church. These three were saved that day and were so excited that they wanted to meet the person behind the testimony. One word about Jesus to me gave me the zeal to speak to others. Within six months of being saved, four to six people met Jesus through my zeal for His mercy and healing. I can fully understand Andrew's zeal that made him run to his brother in excitement to tell him about the Messiah's coming. I can see the big smile on his face as he couldn't tell Peter fast enough to come and see for himself the truth. There is something about your soul being freed that makes you leap for joy and then want others to know what you feel, maybe for the first time in their lives. Andrew was the first of many zealous evangelists to show the world our amazing, loving, and smiling God. The Son had lit up Andrew's face that day, the same as it does many who receive Christ today. May their lips spread in a smile as they spread the word that the Messiah has come! Comment: "The huge thing that we can talk away from both of these studies is that as long as we keep doing what we are meant to do we are a blessing beyond reason." Author Response: Jesus showed us that even the smallest of the things we do for others will be noticed not only by those we do them for, but also The Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and all of the angels in Heaven witness our tiniest of deeds. God is so loving that the more we bless others, the more He blesses us; when we open our hands to let go of what is in them, God fills them up again with more to give. John the Baptist and Andrew continually opened their hands and found great success, joy, and peace in never holding onto what they were given. May we all live with open hands.... Bobby Bruno was saved 15 years ago in a way that left him no doubt that Jesus wanted him to reach others with His great and abounding love. He started writing at the age of 12 and hasn't stopped since. He achieved Associates Degree in Biblical Studies from Ohio Christian University in early 2014. Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |