Let us notice, secondly, in this pa

Let us notice, secondly, in this passage — the manner in which our Lord speaks of John the Baptist's ministry. He refers those who questioned His authority — to John's constant and unvarying testimony to Himself. "Ought they not to remember how John had spoken of Him as the Lamb of God — as One whose shoe-latchets he was not worthy to untie — as One who had the winnowing fan in His hand, and had the Spirit without measure? Ought they not to recollect that they and all Jerusalem had gone out to John's baptism, and confessed that John was a prophet? Yet John had always told them plainly that Christ was the Messiah! Surely, if they were honest — then they would not come now to question His authority. If they really believed John to be a prophet sent from God — then they were bound to believe that Jesus was the Christ."It may reasonably be doubted whether the importance of John the Baptist's ministry is generally understood by Christians. The brightness of our Lord's history overshadows the history of His forerunner, and the result is that John's baptism and preaching do not receive the attention which they deserve. Yet it should never be forgotten, that the ministry of the Baptist was the only New Testament ministry foretold in the Old Testament, excepting that of Christ. It was a ministry which produced an immense effect on the Jewish mind, and aroused the expectation of Israel from one end of Palestine to the other.Above all, John's was a ministry which made the Jews without excuse in their rejection of Christ, when Christ appeared. They could not say that they were taken by surprise when our Lord began to preach. Their minds had been thoroughly prepared for His appearing. To see the full sinfulness of the Jews, and the entire justice of the judgments which came on them after crucifying our Lord — we must remember the ministry of John the Baptist.However little man may esteem the work of faithful ministers — there is One in Heaven who sees it, and keeps account of all their labor. However little their proceedings may be understood, and however much they may be slandered and misrepresented — the Lord Jesus Christ writes all their doings in His book. He lives, who testified to the importance of John the Baptist's ministry when John was dead and buried. He will yet testify to the toil of every one of His faithful servants at the last day. In the world, they may have tribulation and disappointment. But they are not forgotten by Christ.