I am a Jesus pusher!!! “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14).John highlights Jesus as “the light of men” in his Gospel account, and he contrasts Jesus with John the Baptist. Both Jesus and John the Baptist had miraculous birth. Jesus was born of a virgin; John was born of a barren woman, which should have been impossible births. Even though it was an Old Testament filling, John was filled with the Holy Spirit from his birth. Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16) as the first man of the New Covenant. John was the forerunner; Jesus was the Messiah! Both men were called and sent by God. Jesus held John the Baptist in high esteem. He proclaimed John as the greatest ever been born of man (Matthew 11:11).
Jesus recognized a very important distinction between John and Himself. John, as great as he was, did not compare to the least in the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 11:11). What is more remarkable, John recognized his position as well. The Jews sent priest and Levities from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” (John 1:19). He strongly denied that he was the Messiah. “It is He who, coming, after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose” (John 1:27). In preaching to the Pharisees and Sadducees, John said, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11). We can receive the same Spirit of Jesus making us “the light of the world.” I am a Jesus pusher!!!