Living in the Image of God M07S04
John the Baptist introduction of Jesus provides a biblical example for recognizing and promoting the value of others. He was charged with the responsibility of introducing Jesus to the human community starting with the Jews. His task in the introduction consists of a spiritual component and a socio-community component. This bible study focuses on the latter. He was to introduce Jesus as a person of high value to the community. He explained the value of Jesus using the spiritual basis to distinguish between Jesus and himself. By so doing, he provides a message of explaining the value of others by elevating what is known about them. If you are in position to introduce another person, provide a cheerful and enthusiastic presentation of his or her positive attributes to elevate their value. Provide only truthful information and do not exaggerate.
The introduction of Jesus by John the Baptist provides an example for recognizing and promoting the value of others to a community. His responsibility to introduce Jesus consists of a spiritual component and a socio-community component. Accounts of the introduction are provided in the Gospel versions by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The account in the Gospel according to John focuses on the spiritual component: “And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.’” [John 1:33–34].
This bible study focuses on the socio-community component of the introduction, whereby John the Baptist introduces Jesus as a person of high value to the community [John 1:26–27]: “‘I baptize with water,’ John replied, ‘but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’” A similar message occurs in Mark: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie” [1:7] (Also, see Matthew 3:11 and Luke 3:16).
To understand the introduction, understand that John the Baptist was highly respected in the community. People followed him to hear his message and be baptized: “The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah” [Luke 3:15]. He used the people’s high expectation of him as a point of reference to create anticipation for the value of Jesus. The high expectation that John established through the introduction is right for Jesus but also points to the responsibility of a person that is called upon to introduce another person, whether ordinary or extraordinary.
Start by understanding the value of the person that you are called to introduce. Focus on his or her positive attributes, to identify the person’s potential value to the community. Determine an approach to elevate the values without exaggerating. Provide a cheerful and enthusiastic presentation to create a positive anticipation. Leave any negative attributes. Those could become important when assessing the person for a specific task. The responsibility of introducing a person to the community calls for creating a positive anticipation, similar to the introduction of Jesus by John the Baptist.