As we enter into this season of Advent, we are reminded of a spirit of waiting. Some two thousand years ago, the Israelites (God’s people) had been waiting centuries for the coming of the Savior—God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Ever since God promised that this Savior would crush Satan’s head (Genesis 3:15) and would come through Abraham’s lineage (Genesis 12), the Israelites had been waiting. “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son” (Galatians 4:4). Jesus, the Savior finally here, on earth as one of us, to connect with us, to die for us and rise again in order to redeem us.
As prophesied, God would send a messenger before Jesus to prepare the way (Isaiah 40:3, Mark 1:2–3). This messenger was John the Baptist. Upon Jesus’ long awaited arrival, talk swept across the land. Is this really the Son of God? Is this the promised One? Is He the Savior of the world? Imagine the hopeful but cautious buzz in the air. Is it God in the flesh? The Savior of the world whom God promised to our forefathers? The people came to John with great expectation, and he consistently pointed them to Jesus (Luke 3:15–16). Today, we will discuss two different encounters between John and Jesus.
John the Baptist’s first run-in with Jesus was a womb-to-womb encounter. After the angel Gabriel told Mary that she would bear the Son of God, Jesus (Luke 1:31–32), Mary went to visit Elizabeth. In Elizabeth’s barrenness, God had reached down and also blessed her with a son, John (vv. 7–17). As Mary and Elizabeth greeted one another, Elizabeth’s baby (John) leaped for joy in her womb. What a moment! The Holy Spirit fell upon Elizabeth and revealed to her that Mary’s baby was the Lord Jesus Christ, and the unborn baby celebrated.
John’s womb encounter with Jesus filled him with joy. What an exciting emotion! It’s one filled with great happiness and pleasure. It’s one we all long for. And, as Scripture reminds us, Jesus is the joy of our salvation (Psalm 51:12). When the angel of the Lord pronounced Jesus’ birth to the shepherds, the heavenly being announced, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10, emphasis added). Joy because Jesus, the long awaited Savior, is here. Joy because Jesus reconciles us back to God. Joy because His salvation is for all people. Jesus is the fulfillment of our joy. John’s womb encounter with Jesus filled John with the very same joy. A joy that was not there before—the kind that lasts forever despite any hardships. And when John grew up, it moved him to prepare the way for Jesus.
I have always struggled with self perception, and self confidence. Encountering Jesus humbles me, and makes me realize I need to put him first in everything. If I do, the rest will follow, and who I am or am not, and what I look like to others will matter less and less. I need to remind myself of this daily. Look to him first every day.
I struggle with being humble. When I read His Word daily, it brings me back to how unworthy I am and how holy and wonderful He is. This puts my prideful self in it’s place. I have to daily ask forgiveness for my prideful feelings and focus on the example Jesus left for me to follow.