Giving Joy

John 3:22-24 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized. 24 (This was before John was in prison.)
 
PROGRESS is a key substance of the Kingdom of God. This portion of John 3 emphasizes more than the other gospels that John the Baptist’s and Jesus’ ministry overlapped for a time. There seems to be a gradual progression form the Old Covenant to the New.
   One way we can understand this progress is found in Psalms 19:6-8 The sun rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat. 7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 
   As the apostle John wrote that Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized, he expressed the Son of God is on the move as the sun of the heavens. Jesus sees all and is perfect in righteousness. His trustworthy word gives light, so all can walk upright and joyfully in the law. As sure as the dawn becomes twilight, the Son of God will move the gospel throughout the earth.   
   Jesus came to Judea as a servant King to teach, preach and witness God’s glory to his creation. The Lord Jesus displayed an example for his growing group of disciples. About three years later they will follow his pathway to advance the Word as they go from Jerusalem, to Judea, to Samaria and to the ends of the earth. Jesus walked his earth to minister his grace, mercy and love, so his messengers will expand the commands of the Lord, giving light to the eyes. 
   Note, too, that Jesus and John the Baptist are both at work. John will soon depart. Yet, John keeps working because this is his anointing. The Lord’s presence even increases the urgency of the Jews’ baptism of repentance. John is doing all he can to prepare the Jews for their Messiah. He is a good model for our Christian life.
   The King is on the move. His progress plan is becoming evident.