John 1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The Baptist was characterized by — I. STRENGTH. If ever there was a man unlike the little reed that gives itself to be tossed by the wind (Matthew 11:7) it was John. Your strong man is self-conscious. He has presided over the slow and painful elaboration of his character. He has looked on with satisfaction at the stiffening of his moral fibre into steel, and knows what it is worth. Humility has never been a feature of strong Jewish natures. Yet this strong man says, "He that cometh after me is stronger (ισχυρότερος) than I." II. INDEPENDENCE. Yet like David in God's presence declaring, "I will be base in my own sight," so the Baptist exclaims, "Whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose." III. Above all, PURITY. An effective moral teacher must in purity of manhood stand upright. Never could he have brought men to repentance if he had not himself repented. The words "generation of vipers" would have been a mere scream of impotent rage if he had not crushed the serpent in his own heart. Yet, in the presence of Jesus, that pure soul seems black like the waters of a mountain lake in the neighbourhood of the newly fallen snow. The baptism of water he knew; of the baptism of fire, searching and sifting to the marrow, he recognized the need — "I have need to be baptized of Thee." (Bp. Alexander.) Parallel Verses KJV: There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. |
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