Before the encounter…

 

“Then John gave this testimony: ‘I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on Him. I would not have known Him, expect that the One who sent me to baptize with water told me.’” –John 1:32-33a (NIV)

 

 

 

 

Because John was where God wanted him to be and was doing what he was supposed to do, probably the best thing that could ever be revealed, was revealed to him: Jesus Christ. When we are looking for and anticipating Jesus, we are blessed to see Him and know Him, maybe before anyone else. John was the first to recognize and know Jesus at the start of His ministry, in His adult life. John was the first to tell others about Jesus and be the first “witness.” If he wasn’t obeying God and listening to Him, he wouldn’t have recognized Jesus, and John admits that himself (vs. 33). But what’s even greater about John: he was “preparing the way” and preparing others to accept Jesus BEFORE he had a face-to-face, personal encounter with Jesus. He didn’t follow the signs or proof with belief and action; his actions and belief preceded any definite reality of Jesus’ existence. And then what was his reward? Not only did he see Jesus, not only did he meet him or speak with Him… he baptized Him in water and heard God’s voice firsthand. Learn to trust God before the encounter with Him… He never leaves anyway; He may just be harder to find sometimes. Never lose anticipation for Him.

The hottest part of the day…

“The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to the tent in the heat of the day. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried…to meet them and bowed low to the ground.” –Genesis 18:1-2 (NIV)

It’s interesting how this verse emphasizes that these things appeared to Abraham during the hottest part of the day. At this time, he was living in Hebron, which was right by the Dead Sea (Salt Sea), close to Judah and Jerusalem, and not far from Egypt. While this was probably a fertile and manageable land to live in, it didn’t rain very much and, based on location, I’m sure it was incredibly hot in the middle of the day. Hebron was near the Arabian Desert and, while not directly located in it, I’m sure it got hot enough to see mirages in Hebron. Yet, I find it so interesting that when he “looked up” and suddenly saw 3 men standing in front of him, he took it as real and he didn’t second guess, at all, that he was seeing things; vs. 2 says, “When he saw them, he hurried…” Not only that, he got up and served them, going to great lengths to supply all their needs:

“So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. ‘Quick,’ he said, ‘get three sehas of fine flour and knead it and bake it into some bread.’ Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to the servants, who hurried to prepare it. He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them.” –Genesis 18:6-8 (NIV)

He sacrificed his “choice” calf so that these strangers could have something to eat. Abraham was so tuned into God that he recognized these weren’t just ordinary men. He recognized these visitors as God; 1 was God appearing in human form and the other two were probably angels. I believe the point of this visit was actually for Sarah; for her to hear firsthand that she would soon become pregnant with Isaac (vs. 9-15). However, why God didn’t just show up to her individually, but rather he chose to go through Abraham, I’m not sure. Perhaps, it was also to test Abraham and see how quick he’d respond to serve. How often do we second guess God and think that maybe it was just a “mirage,” or random thought in our head? Abraham shows here that we need to be quick and willing to serve, and to serve with all our effort, even if its at an inconvenient and uncomfortable time, like the hottest part of the day.