John 1:6-9
There was a man named John who was sent from God.
He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light.
The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
“I’ve got a bridge to sell you!”
This statement is more than just a funny remark made to someone who is gullible. It’s part of the legacy of George C. Parker, America’s greatest con-man. He was born in New York City in 1860 and died in 1936. During his lifetime he became famous for selling New York’s public landmarks to unwary immigrants and gullible community members.
He would produce forged documents showing he was the legal owner of a property. Then use them to convince people the sale was real. It worked so well the police were called multiple times to remove toll booths being constructed on the Brooklyn Bridge by the ‘new owners.’
Parker would also pretend to be General Grant’s grandson while selling Grant’s tomb. He sold Madison Square Garden, The Statue of Liberty and The Metropolitan Museum of the Arts. He also sold scripts for Broadway plays and other items he never owned.
George Parker was a surprisingly successful salesman. From what I’ve read he was also very popular in prison, where he lived out the final years of his life. Everyone loved his stories.
Deception ultimately leads us, into bondage. Paul writes this warning in Ephesians 5:11, “Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them.”
Parker’s life was full of meaningless goals and empty sales. When the courts finally held his claims and activities up to the light of truth, many who fell for his scams were embarrassed.
Deceivers work best in darkness. That’s why the Apostle John tells us that Jesus came as light.
In the passage we started with, John the Apostle tells us about another John. One many refer to as “John the Baptist” or “John the Baptizer”. He was the son of a priest named Zacharias and wife Elizabeth. John’s birth was foretold by an angel. His mother was the cousin of Mary the mother of Christ. His purpose was to be the first witness in the courtroom to tell everyone about Jesus.
John wasn’t trying to steal anyone’s money with his claims. He wasn’t running a scam. The Apostle John tells us what the purpose of John’s testimony was, “so we all might believe in Jesus” (v11).
The world will try to sell you many things. In the end many will be embarrassed they fell for a lie. In a sea of scammers, the claims of Christ are true and those who saw Him up close can testify, they found no darkness in Him.
The Kingdom of God is owned fully by Jesus and He is the only way in.
Trust Him and you won’t be left holding a worthless title for a bridge in Brooklyn. You’ll be given full access to the streets of glory.
It’s the best deal in town.
If you were encouraged by this devotional, head over to our website and track along with our current series as we study the Gospel of John. Every week I will be posting a devotional here that relates to the passage we are in.
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