The Passing Of The Baton

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! There is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29

Jesus thought very highly of John the Baptist, so highly that he called him the finest man who ever lived (see Matthew 11:11).

God sent John to deliver a profound message to humankind. John had great insight as well as great passion for telling others about the coming of the Messiah.

But John’s life purpose was not complete until he saw Jesus. When he did, he was able to point out to others that Jesus himself was the one they had been waiting for, their Messiah.

As always happens when a man meets Jesus, nothing about John’s life was the same after seeing his Savior.

John was popular and sought after during the time he was preparing people to see the Messiah. He was in the forefront of the religious scene of his day. But when Jesus arrived, John began slipping into the background. He had fulfilled the purpose for which God had prepared him. His leg of the race was finished, and it was time for him to pass the baton to the one he had been called to announce all along.

In every man’s walk with Christ there is a time to rise up and be counted and a time to step back and give up the stage to others. When it is your turn to hand off the baton, will you do so willingly, or will the next generation need to tear it out of your hands?

Lord, give me a sure grip on the baton during my leg of the race and a sure pass to the next person when it is finished.