“Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.” John 4:14
Jesus is not good news for people who are satisfied with their religion. Many people would say, “I pray when I need to. Sometimes I give. And I belong to a good church—that’s really all I need.”
There were people who felt like that in the time of Jesus. But the people who came to John in the desert were different. They were religious, but they felt they were not yet ready to meet with God. They knew they had sins to confess, and they had a deep longing to know God.
So they came to the desert, confessed their sins, and John baptized them in water. And he told them about Jesus: “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! I baptize you with water but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
The next day, when Jesus walked by, John said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” John’s disciples heard this and followed Jesus. Why in the world would they stay with John? He is not the Christ! He himself said that he was not worthy to untie the sandals on the feet of Jesus!
Why would anyone stay with John when they could follow Jesus? John can hear confessions, but Jesus can take away sin! John can baptize with water, but Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit!
Don’t settle for the outward forms of religion! Jesus Christ says to you today, “I have come to do for you what no religion in the world can do. I have come to take away your sins and to baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” To the humble and to the hungry this is marvelous news!
Are you hungry and thirsty for God?
