And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
--Parallel verses:
Matthew 16:25-26
For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?
What strikes me as impressive about John the Baptist is that he set aside everything else in his life to focus on preaching the truth about righteousness and Jesus’ coming. He did not own anything. He wore clothes he made. He ate what he harvested that God provided. He had no earthly home.
His identity, belonging, and value were entirely wrapped up in God and God’s calling on his life. And his home was his spiritual zone with God. This hyper-focus on God was acknowledged by all those around him in 1) them swarming to him and 2) them hearing a convicting message and repenting of their sins.
And his message had future hope: Jesus was coming and he would baptize his disciples with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost! No longer did people have to rely on a few leaders who heard from God (or some who falsely claimed to). Instead, in the near future, they could have God’s Spirit inside them in a real and personal way. Now that is awesome news!
When I call others to repent of their sins (or when I repent myself), do I share thse hope I see as well?
Thank you, Lord, for your truth that you have communicated in the life and message of John the Baptist! He was so very faithful to your call on his life. Help me to follow his lead today.
