Whether John should be treated as a prophet

He would ask why they had not believed John

He would ask why they had not baptized anyone themselves

He would ask why they were speaking only in private

He would ask why the crowd had followed John

Tell the truth plainly, even if it is costly

Choose the safest answer to avoid conflict

Wait for someone else to take the risk first

Say only enough to keep the discussion open

If you would like to receive Jesus, pray this with me: Lord Jesus, I admit that I have sinned and that I have often listened to people more than to God. I turn from my sin and from every evasive answer that keeps me from your truth. I believe you died for me and rose again. I trust you as the one sent from heaven, and I confess you as my Lord. Lead my life in your truth. Amen.

Choose the Answer from Heaven

Father, revive your Church to value your voice above human approval. Where we have become careful, defensive, or evasive, give us honesty and courage. Teach us to believe what you have sent and to answer in truth, so that our witness is clear to the world. Awaken us again, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

A Church That Fears God More Than People

Father, I confess that I have sometimes hidden behind safe words when I knew the truth. Forgive my fear of people, my desire to protect myself, and my reluctance to stand for what is right. Give me a clean heart and a brave tongue, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Repent of Fearful Silence

Pray by naming one conversation where you feel pressure to dodge the truth. Ask God to show you what is faithful to say, and then ask for courage to say it plainly.

Pray for a Truthful Answer

Bring these to God: people who are struggling to admit what they know is true; leaders who must answer difficult questions with integrity; those who are tempted to care more about reputation than obedience.

For Those Facing God’s Question

Lord, grow in me a faith that does not hide when your truth is costly. Make me quick to believe what you reveal, humble enough to admit when I have resisted it, and steady enough to obey it. Shape me into someone who answers with integrity, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Grow Us in Honest Faith

τὸ{TO###TOH###The} βάπτισμα{VAP-tis-ma###VAHP-tees-mah###baptism of} ⸀τὸ{TO###TOH###(the)} Ἰωάννου{i-o-AN-noo###ee-oh-AHN-noo###John} πόθεν{PO-then###POH-thehn###from where} ἦν;{EEN###EEN###was} ἐξ{eks###ehks###from} οὐρανοῦ{oo-ra-NOO###oo-rah-NOO###heaven} ἢ{EE###EE###or} ἐξ{eks###ehks###from} ἀνθρώπων;{an-THRO-pon###ahn-THROH-pohn###people} οἱ{EE###EE###They} δὲ{DE###DEH###but} διελογίζοντο{di-e-lo-YEE-zon-to###dee-eh-loh-YEE-zohn-toh###were reasoning} ⸀ἐν{en###ehn###among} ἑαυτοῖς{he-af-TEES###heh-ahf-TEES###themselves} λέγοντες·{LE-gon-tes###LEH-gohn-tehs###saying} Ἐὰν{e-AN###eh-AN###If} εἴπωμεν·{EE-po-men###EE-poh-mehn###we say} Ἐξ{eks###ehks###From} οὐρανοῦ,{oo-ra-NOO###oo-rah-NOO###heaven} ἐρεῖ{e-REE###eh-REE###he will say} ἡμῖν·{hee-MEEN###hee-MEEN###to us} Διὰ{di-A###dee-AH###Because of} τί{TI###TEE###what} οὖν{OON###OON###then} οὐκ{ook###ook###not} ἐπιστεύσατε{e-pee-STEF-sa-te###eh-pee-STEHF-sah-teh###you believed} αὐτῷ;{af-TO###ahf-TOH###him}

Matthew 21:25 — LiteralTAB

More on this verse