Look and Live: How John the Baptist Points the Way to Real Hope

Have You Ever Found Something So Good You Just Couldn’t Keep It to Yourself?

    Have you ever stumbled upon a life-changing product, a hidden gem of a restaurant, or news so breathtakingly good that you immediately pulled out your phone to tell everyone you knew? Sharing good news comes naturally to us when we've experienced something truly remarkable.

    Yet, when it comes to the greatest news in human history—the hope found in Jesus Christ—many of us hesitate or worse keep it to ourselves. Sometimes we question if people really care to hear it, or we feel unequipped to explain it effectively. We at times feel someone else should be in charge of sharing the gospel or at least someone else would do a far better job. 

    The truth is that in a world increasingly marked by isolation and spiritual longing, sharing hope isn't just nice; it's vital. Did you know that according to a survey by the Barna Group, 74% of adults in the U.S. express a desire to grow spiritually, yet millions remain disconnected from any faith community? People around us are searching, and we hold the key to the answer they are seeking. The problem many times is our reluctance to share the good news with those who are desperately searching for it. 

    So how do we bridge that gap? The answer lies in the story of a rugged, plain-spoken prophet in the Judean wilderness: John the Baptist.

The Scripture: John 1:29–34

"The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, "After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me." I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.'

And John bore witness, saying, 'I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, "Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit." And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.'"— John 1:29–34 (NKJV)

Unpacking the Passage: A Wilderness Voice Pointing to the Messiah

    To truly appreciate this moment, imagine the scene. John the Baptist was a unique, counter-cultural figure—he lived off the land eating locusts and wild honey, wore rough camel’s hair clothing, and preached a radical message of repentance along the Jordan River. Everyone likes a interesting spectacle and John the Baptist was as interesting as they come. Crowds flocked to him. They wanted to see what this wild haired, crazy camel hair wearing, locust eating country preacher had to say. John was interesting, but he was a man with a message. John was laser-focused on his purpose: he wasn't trying to build his own kingdom; he was preparing the way for the Messiah.

    God had given John a specific sign: the Messiah would be revealed when the Holy Spirit descended and remained upon Him. When John baptized his cousin Jesus, that exact sign occurred—the heavens opened, the Spirit descended like a dove, and God’s voice confirmed His Son.

    About 40 days later, after Jesus returned from the wilderness, John saw Him walking toward the crowd. Right then and there, John redirected his own followers toward Jesus with a bold declaration: "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" This moment launched Jesus’ public earthly ministry. John didn't keep the news to himself—he pointed people directly to the Savior. There is a lesson in this for us today! 

The Big Idea: How We Can Point Others to Jesus Today

    Just like John the Baptist, our primary calling as followers of Christ is to point others to Him—our families, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. Here are three ways we can effectively do that every day:

1. Tell Them Who He Is

    John didn't give a vague description of Jesus; he proclaimed His identity as the eternal Redeemer and Son of God. Evangelist Billy Sunday once noted that there are over 256 distinct titles given to Jesus in the Bible, precisely because no single name could fully capture His divine glory. 

    Many people today view Jesus merely as a wise moral teacher or historical figure. While He was a teacher, He is so much more: He is the Savior, the Good Shepherd, and the King of Kings. When we share who Jesus is according to Scripture, we clear away the worlds  misconceptions and point them to the eternal redemptive truth; Jesus is God, the Savior of the World! 

2. Share What You Have Witnessed

    John bore personal witness to what God had done in his life. Your personal story—your testimony—is one of the most powerful tools you possess. People love a good story, and your story of what God has done and is doing in your life is a story worth telling. Someone you know needs to hear just exactly what Jesus Christ has done for you. 

    Consider the life of John Newton. In the 18th century, Newton was an infidel, a libertine, and a slave ship captain involved in the brutal North Atlantic slave trade. During a violent ocean storm, facing imminent death, he cried out to God for mercy. That moment transformed his life. He abandoned his old lifestyle, embraced Christ, became a minister, and actively fought to abolish the slave trade. Newton wrote the timeless hymn Amazing Grace and penned these words for his own tombstone:

"John Newton, clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, was by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had long labored to destroy."

    You don't need a dramatic story like Newton's to make an impact. Has Jesus given you peace in anxiety, restored your marriage, or changed your attitude? Were you saved from religious exercise or the false notion that you did not need to be saved? Sharing what Christ has done in your daily life makes faith tangible and relatable to a watching world. They need to hear faith stories. Stories just like yours! So go and share them!

3. Proclaim What He Has Done

    John called Jesus "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world". He declared Jesus' mission.

    Imagine a missionary visiting a family in a severe, poverty-stricken refugee district. A suffering woman challenges him: "It’s easy for you to visit us from your clean, comfortable house. But are you willing to bring your family to live right here in our poverty, sin, and suffering to lift us up?" That is quite a request is it not? Its one thing to say you support those in poverty, but are you willing to your own life to live among the people? Are you willing to make that sacrifice? 

That is precisely what Jesus did. He left the perfection of heaven, stepped into our broken world, lived a sinless life, and voluntarily died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. God promised a Savior out of His immense love, making a way for anyone to be restored into a right relationship with Him. As Romans 10:13 promises, "Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Jesus suffered and died in our place, for our sins. He suffered the guilt we deserve that we might be forgiven and restored. This is the message people need to hear; that there is a savior who loved them so much he reached down, suffered and sacrificed so that we might be forgiven! 

Tying It All Together

We live in a world searching for hope, meaning, and truth. Like John the Baptist in the wilderness, our job isn't to save people—only Jesus can do that. Our job is simply to point others to Him.

• Reflect: Who in your circle of influence needs to hear about the hope you have?

• Encouragement: You don't need a theology degree to share your faith; you only need a heart willing to tell what Jesus has done for you.

• Challenge: Revisit that initial question: When was the last time you shared good news with someone? Take a moment today to ask God for an opportunity to point someone toward the Lamb of God.