And I saw and bear record, that This is the Son of God. John 1:34
John Baptist was instructed to look for a sign: the Spirit descending and remaining on a person. When John saw that sign fulfilled in the Lord Jesus, he was convinced that he was looking at the Messiah, the Son of God. He was so convinced that he pointed Him out as the Lamb of God (verses 29 and 36), making a public announcement before all those who were gathered about him that day. He declared that the One for whom Israel watched and prayed had indeed arrived.
We are also convinced that He is the Messiah, otherwise, we would not gather each week to remember Him in His appointed way. We too publicly declare that He is the Son of God, the Messiah, by our gathering to remember Him and by our participation in the memorial of His death.
John baptized with water, but he was told that the One who received the sign would baptize with the Holy Ghost. We also know this to be true, because He who saved us has also given to us the indwelling of the Holy Ghost. We acknowledge this in our gatherings today. One Spirit leads our worship and brings us to the acknowledgment that we are remembering the Son of God in our midst.
We appreciate John’s testimony. It cost him much to deliver his message to us. He came to the place where he willingly submitted to the lower place, so that Christ could occupy the higher place. Just like John, we do not take the high place today. We know the high place is not ours. We have been lifted out of the pit of sin and have been exalted to heavenly places. But the One in our midst has received the highest place, has been exalted by His Father. And we recognize and accord Him that place in our midst.
All hail the Son of God! May we today, like John, bare record to Who He is! -Jim MacIntosh