18 October 2026
John Points His Disciples Toward Jesus (TMF:2990)
Friday, October 23, 2026
by Daniel Litton Listen to the Feature
Note John’s persuasive power—his following. The commitment by his disciples to him and what he affirmed is starkly obvious. That’s why the minute he points Jesus out, people take notice. Of those who took notice, one was named Andrew. And who was the other? The other isn’t named, which, we should conclude, as talked about in the introduction last week, that this is undoubtedly John, the one who is writing this book. Nevertheless, both Andrew and John were seeking God, and when John the Baptist told them he’s over there, to look that way, that’s what they did. They left John behind and followed Jesus instead. The first thing that Andrew does is to go and find his brother, who is Peter. The great Peter, the one who will be so pivotal in Jesus’ ministry and, later on, church. One who is still very influential to this day—some 2,000 years later. Andrew told him they have finally found the One they were looking for—the Messiah. The One God had promised would come, back in the Old Testament writings. And Andrew brings him to Jesus.
The Difference of Jesus's Water Baptism (TMF:2989)
Thursday, October 22, 2026
by Daniel Litton Listen to the Feature
Nevertheless, longterm, this baptism of the Spirit would include the most important point of all, and that is that God is always with us. God himself indwelling us. Jesus would die on the cross, he would rise, but he would ascend back to Heaven. That’s because of the Jewish people’s rejection of him. So, the Holy Spirit would indwell believers, and does so to this day. Thirdly, now that God is always with his people, we know that the Spirit seals the choice of salvation in those who willingly choose to count on Jesus’ sacrifice for sins, and his rising from the dead. It is as the Apostle Paul told the Ephesians early on: “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14, ESV). And that’s the fourth thing, there at the end of the verse, our inheritance.
The Meaning Behind John's Baptism, Part 3 (TMF:2988)
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
by Daniel Litton Listen to the Feature
The discussion continues for us in regard to water baptism, and the difference is noted between John the Baptist's baptism and the one to be brought about by the Son of God. Just conveyed was the meaning behind John's baptism, and he informs those standing by that Jesus' baptism is different. This variation is presented to us in that John's baptism symbolized the change of the human heart, and the inclusion within the collective body of those fellow like-minded believers. This inward believing resulted in a belonging to a group of fellow believers—a collective group, much like the Nation of Israel had been up to this time. In contrast to this, Jesus' baptism was to go further. Initially, the baptism of the Holy Spirit would include power—power over sickness, power over demonic spirits, and power at times even over death itself. Nevertheless, longterm, this baptism of the Spirit would include the most important point of all, and that is that God is always with us. God himself indwelling us.
The Messiah Deals with Our Sin, Part 2 (TMF:2987)
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
by Daniel Litton Listen to the Feature
They were looking at the grandiosity, at the king side of things, the fact that a Messiah was coming to establish a physical, earthly kingdom. They wanted to be in on that worldly kingdom. The sin part, the sin part was probably secondary in their minds. It’s much like a teacher today in the Christian realm who presents the positive side, or positive things first. Sin is downplayed, and really not even considered all that important. Each one of us are guilty of this at one point or another. However, we must start with the sin problem, and not forget that at a heavy cost we have been cleansed from our sins. Let us not be like those in the later church of Ephesus, where Jesus expresses, “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first” (Revelation 2:4, 5, ESV). As John said, ““Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
The Messiah Deals with Our Sin, Part 1 (TMF:2986)
Monday, October 19, 2026
by Daniel Litton Listen to the Feature
The desire was always present for people to be genuinely following him from the heart, and not just going through the motions with external actions. In the appearance of Jesus on the scene for the first time, it is interesting how John refers to him as “the Lamb of God.” The surrounding Jews who were listening would have known in detail regarding lamb sacrifices to cover sin. Indeed, this was a common animal used during that time, and even to times further back as prescribed by God for a covering for sin. The animal sacrifice represented that sin had to be dealt with, yet the animal could only provide a covering for the sin. Unfortunately, it’s likely that all of the people missed that fact. The persons who believed in him, the later disciples, probably didn’t really comprehend initially what was going on. They were looking at the grandiosity, at the king side of things, the fact that a Messiah was coming to establish a physical, earthly kingdom. They wanted to be in on that worldly kingdom. The sin part, the sin part was probably secondary in their minds.