John Points His Disciples Toward Jesus (TMF:2990)
Friday, October 23, 2026
by Daniel Litton Listen to the Feature
Note John’s persuasive power—his following. The commitment by his disciples to him and what he affirmed is starkly obvious. That’s why the minute he points Jesus out, people take notice. Of those who took notice, one was named Andrew. And who was the other? The other isn’t named, which, we should conclude, as talked about in the introduction last week, that this is undoubtedly John, the one who is writing this book. Nevertheless, both Andrew and John were seeking God, and when John the Baptist told them he’s over there, to look that way, that’s what they did. They left John behind and followed Jesus instead. The first thing that Andrew does is to go and find his brother, who is Peter. The great Peter, the one who will be so pivotal in Jesus’ ministry and, later on, church. One who is still very influential to this day—some 2,000 years later. Andrew told him they have finally found the One they were looking for—the Messiah. The One God had promised would come, back in the Old Testament writings. And Andrew brings him to Jesus.
The Difference of Jesus's Water Baptism (TMF:2989)
Thursday, October 22, 2026
by Daniel Litton Listen to the Feature
Nevertheless, longterm, this baptism of the Spirit would include the most important point of all, and that is that God is always with us. God himself indwelling us. Jesus would die on the cross, he would rise, but he would ascend back to Heaven. That’s because of the Jewish people’s rejection of him. So, the Holy Spirit would indwell believers, and does so to this day. Thirdly, now that God is always with his people, we know that the Spirit seals the choice of salvation in those who willingly choose to count on Jesus’ sacrifice for sins, and his rising from the dead. It is as the Apostle Paul told the Ephesians early on: “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14, ESV). And that’s the fourth thing, there at the end of the verse, our inheritance.
The Meaning Behind John's Baptism, Part 3 (TMF:2988)
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
by Daniel Litton Listen to the Feature
The discussion continues for us in regard to water baptism, and the difference is noted between John the Baptist's baptism and the one to be brought about by the Son of God. Just conveyed was the meaning behind John's baptism, and he informs those standing by that Jesus' baptism is different. This variation is presented to us in that John's baptism symbolized the change of the human heart, and the inclusion within the collective body of those fellow like-minded believers. This inward believing resulted in a belonging to a group of fellow believers—a collective group, much like the Nation of Israel had been up to this time. In contrast to this, Jesus' baptism was to go further. Initially, the baptism of the Holy Spirit would include power—power over sickness, power over demonic spirits, and power at times even over death itself. Nevertheless, longterm, this baptism of the Spirit would include the most important point of all, and that is that God is always with us. God himself indwelling us.
The Messiah Deals with Our Sin, Part 2 (TMF:2987)
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
by Daniel Litton Listen to the Feature
They were looking at the grandiosity, at the king side of things, the fact that a Messiah was coming to establish a physical, earthly kingdom. They wanted to be in on that worldly kingdom. The sin part, the sin part was probably secondary in their minds. It’s much like a teacher today in the Christian realm who presents the positive side, or positive things first. Sin is downplayed, and really not even considered all that important. Each one of us are guilty of this at one point or another. However, we must start with the sin problem, and not forget that at a heavy cost we have been cleansed from our sins. Let us not be like those in the later church of Ephesus, where Jesus expresses, “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first” (Revelation 2:4, 5, ESV). As John said, ““Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
The Messiah Deals with Our Sin, Part 1 (TMF:2986)
Monday, October 19, 2026
by Daniel Litton Listen to the Feature
The desire was always present for people to be genuinely following him from the heart, and not just going through the motions with external actions. In the appearance of Jesus on the scene for the first time, it is interesting how John refers to him as “the Lamb of God.” The surrounding Jews who were listening would have known in detail regarding lamb sacrifices to cover sin. Indeed, this was a common animal used during that time, and even to times further back as prescribed by God for a covering for sin. The animal sacrifice represented that sin had to be dealt with, yet the animal could only provide a covering for the sin. Unfortunately, it’s likely that all of the people missed that fact. The persons who believed in him, the later disciples, probably didn’t really comprehend initially what was going on. They were looking at the grandiosity, at the king side of things, the fact that a Messiah was coming to establish a physical, earthly kingdom. They wanted to be in on that worldly kingdom. The sin part, the sin part was probably secondary in their minds.
The Meaning Behind John's Baptism, Part 2 (TMF:2985)
Friday, October 16, 2026
by Daniel Litton Listen to the Feature
Leviticus 15:13 called for a ritual of purification much like water baptism. In connection to this is the interesting fact of John basically saying that those who belonged to the Nation of Israel, those of the Jewish race, weren’t truly in right relationship with God. They were, in heart, as the outsider Gentiles had been in the past, and they needed to go through the ritual in order to show that they were now in this right relationship. Repentance of sins needed to occur, and then they could receive John’s water baptism. This action would demonstrate that a change had occurred for a person on the inside. The Jewish Law had focused on external behaviors, but now the focus was a true change of character from the inside, which really, in reality, was what God had desired all along from people. The desire was always present for people to be genuinely following him from the heart, and not just going through the motions with external actions.
The Meaning Behind John's Baptism, Part 1 (TMF:2984)
Thursday, October 15, 2026
by Daniel Litton Listen to the Feature
“(Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.” What then is really going on with John’s baptism? This practice of water immersion introduced by John appears to have its parallel in the Old Testament practice and procedure of admitting Gentiles peoples into the Jewish religion. In other words, in the Old Testament, when a person desired to become Jewish, and worship the Jewish God, Leviticus 15:13 called for a ritual of purification much like water baptism. In connection to this is the interesting fact of John basically saying that those who belonged to the Nation of Israel, those of the Jewish race, weren’t truly in right relationship with God.
Asking 'Who is John the Baptist?' Part 2 (TMF:2983)
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
by Daniel Litton Listen to the Feature
A belief was also persistent among the Jewish people that there was going to be a great prophet that would rise up like Moses. This idea stems from Deuteronomy 18:15-18. People thought this prophet was coming into the world, but later we learn in Acts 3, particularly verses 22 and 23, that this prediction of Moses in Deuteronomy actually referred to Jesus Christ. These are the familiar verses which say, “The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.” While we understand this is relating to Jesus, those first century Jews thought that it was speaking about another prophet.
Asking 'Who is John the Baptist?' Part 1 (TMF:2982)
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
by Daniel Litton Listen to the Feature
“And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” At this point, our attention can be called to a few things. Apparently, some at the time thought that John the Baptist might actually be the Christ that they were looking for. With the words John spoke, as well as with the following he had attained, the thought was he must be the Christ. However, John made it clear that he was not that Person. Another thing to note is that the Old Testament had promised that Elijah would come first before God established his everlasting earthly kingdom for the Israelites, the one where the Messiah would reign as king (see 2 Kings 1:8).
Understanding God Through Love (TMF:2981)
Monday, October 12, 2026
by Daniel Litton Listen to the Feature
And, God took care of the Israelites, he defended them, and he brought about his wrath on his own people and people who didn’t belong to him. Sin was judged. But the core-essence of God goes far beyond that. The core-essence of God is demonstrated in the character of Jesus Christ. Even in our age, that is not understood by the masses. A lot of folks believe the correct understanding of God is to take part of that Old Testament (or even Book to the Revelation) violence picture and intermix it into their ‘personal’ characters. Thus, people construct within themselves a judgmental and resistant attitude toward themselves and other individuals. Those actions of the Father are only correctly understood in the light of everything else, and truly in the light of the highest attribute of God, which is love. Without love, understanding and trying to practice those kinds of things leads quickly to serious problems. The reality is that it removes the grace and truth that John is referring to in this passage.