Growing in Jesus: John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light

God predestines with his providence from eternity and an example of this was John the Baptist who was blessed from his conception. Like all of us, the prophet John also came into the world with a spiritual mission; that is, God gives all men the ability to do good, help others and make the difference.
The prophet John the Baptist was a person full of the holy spirit, who gave testimony of our Lord Jesus and his Kingdom: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near" Matthew 3:2. And with these words many amazed people approached, and John baptized with water in the Jordan River.
But this baptism that John gave was not like that of Jesus: "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire" Matthew 3:11. That is, Jesus brings with him the promise and the power of the spirit of wisdom, the inner teacher; this is what John tells us about Jesus.
Growing up in our Lord Jesus means understanding John's testimony, faced with this kingdom that approaches with mercy (compassion, kindness) and wisdom we have to make a fundamental choice, we cannot remain lukewarm in front of Jesus: "So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth" Revelation 3:16.
But then the gospels tell us what Jesus says about John the Baptist: "John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light" John 5:35.
John was a lamp because John showed us the need for good (righteousness, Matthew 7:12), the need for piety (constancy, firmness, devotion), because if we reject God's gifts, the only thing left for us is to act like Herod who asked for John's head because he preached the Kingdom, the dominion of God's perfections.

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