40 Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. Here he stayed 41 and many people came to him. They said, "Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John said about this man was true." 42 And in that place many believed in Jesus.
I am reminded in our verses for today, through the lives of John the Baptist and Jesus, God’s way of proper effectual witnessing. Jesus’ Word to His disciples earlier in John clearly stated what we here see fleshed out in His and the Baptist’s life. The following are the directives Jesus gave to His disciples:
34 "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor." John 4:34-38 (NIV)
One will till the soil, another will sow the seed, and yet another will harvest the crop – a beautiful picture of God’s perfect order in the preparation and work of His turning a soul to Him. God uses flawed human vessels filled with the treasure of His Holy Spirit to accomplish His purposes. The Baptist’s call was to preach repentance, to baptize and to point the people to the Lord Jesus. He was faithful to his call – content to be only a voice if it pointed people to Christ. He lived not for the call of another. He performed no miraculous signs or wonders rather he preached, baptized and pointed people to the Christ and God blessed his efforts.
“We are doing more good than we know. The things we do today – sowing seeds or sharing simple truths of Christ – people will someday refer to as the first things that prompted them to think of Him. For my part, I will be satisfied not to have some great tombstone over my grave but just to know that common people will gather there once I am gone and say, ‘He was a good man. He never performed any miracles, but he told me about Christ, which led me to know Him for myself.’” George Matheson
Returning to the site where John had begun his ministry of baptizing as well as of being “a voice calling in the desert”, our perfect Savior fulfills what John initiated – it seems almost in our verses for today as with a hint of nostalgia from our Lord. Certainly He remembered His own baptism by His cousin where all three Persons of the Godhead were present and the ensuing affirmation He received from His Father:
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" 15 Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented. 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." Matt 3:13-17 (NIV)
Herod had silenced the voice of our Lord’s relations by beheading the Baptist in prison but he could not silence his words in the thoughts and hearts of those who had heard him. John’s repeated testimony regarding the Christ had not been forgotten – his words rang in the memories of his hearers as a clarion call to repentance in preparation for the Christ. He had indeed done the hard work of sowing the seed.
“The success and efficacy of the words preached are not confined to the life of the preacher, nor do they expire with His breath.” Matthew Henry
“Let us observe that John’s preaching was not forgotten after his death, though it seemed to produce little effect during his life. Herod could cut short his ministry, put him in prison, and have him beheaded; but he could not prevent his words being remembered. Sermons never die. The Word of God is not bound.” J. C. Ryle
Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians:
8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained. 2 Tim 2:8-9 (NIV)
John the Baptist’s words were pristinely true and clear regarding Jesus and his hearers did not forget them hence when our Lord returned there, many believed in Him:
26 "I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie." John 1:26-27 (NIV)
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel." John 1:29-31 (NIV)
34 I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God." John 1:34 (NIV)