JOHN THE BAPTIST?
This author writes under the nom de plume, “John the Baptist.” See my blog at <johnthebaptist15.com>. But is the pseudonym more a wish or a whim than aspiration? Perhaps, in the examination of this question, you may see something of yourself – or maybe it’s just me.
The real John the Baptist achieved notoriety and even success when viewed from a distance; but, was that his goal?
From his beginning, he was a man marked out by God for God’s particular purpose. Luke 2 gives a vivid account of his miraculous conception and birth story. While still in his mother’s womb, when confronted by the nascent, perhaps even undiscovered fetal Jesus, he “lept in the womb.” Luke 2:41 KJV. The prophecy about him held that he would be a prophet in the oldest tradition, observing the privations of and living the lifestyle of a prophet, complete with camel – hair clothes, leather belt, and a diet reminiscent of Elijah. Mark 1:6.
When questioned as to whether he was a prophet, he demurred, saying merely that he was preparing the way for One who was greater. John 1:19-25.
In his day, one could argue both sides of the question as to whether he was a “success.” While it is true that he successfully prepared the way for the Lord, baptizing Him and thus passing to Him the prophetic baton, John did die a gruesome death in a dungeon betrayed by the lusts of men and women for sex and power.
Obviously, in Christian history’s longer view, he was a grand success. Of him, Our Lord said, “there is none greater born of woman than John the Baptist.” Matthew 11:11. Of whom in John’s time could that be said? Of whom among us, today can that be said? Surely not I.
William Barclay in his Daily Bible Study Commentary on Mark states that John’s message was compelling because he lived his message, “because he told people what in their heart of hearts they knew and brought them what in the depths of their souls they were waiting for,” he was” completely humble,” and he brought a message from God about “someone greater than himself.”
Mark 1:7, NIV quotes John.
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.”
John the Baptist was a man for whom the mission was everything and was worth everything. For him, nothing else mattered. He was not distracted by the goings-on about him, though he was keenly aware of them. Matthew 14:4. He spoke what God told him to speak without gloss and nothing else.
All things considered, for John the Baptist, no one could accuse him of believing or even giving place to the thought, “It’s all about me.”
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Now, to this John the Baptist, the modern-day blogger, (and maybe to some Methodists, as well.) May I submit that God has given each of us a mission, not unlike that of John the Baptist, a mission to “prepare the way for One who is greater (Christ.”) Concerning that mission, do I, do we, exhibit the qualities of my namesake? Is everything about the mission? Am I, are we, not distracted by the apoplectic goings-on in the world? In this society of relative plenty for those so blessed (like me, like us,) am I, are we, more concerned, as Francis Schaeffer said, with safety and comfort more than anything else? Do I, do we, do the same things and think the same thoughts as do those whom I, who we, decry? Am I, are we, living my (our) own dream, living the “American Dream,” or am I, are we, living God’s dream?
If the former is the case and not the latter, why is that? What am I, are we missing? Counting the “I’s” in the last six sentences may give us a clue.
Pray with me if you will that we may turn the “I’s” to “Him’s,” the “me’s” to “You’s,” and the dreams to sureties. May the mission be the mainstay, the distractions be the downplayed, and may the I, the “we,” be the decrease as [the] He becomes the increase.
Please know that I am praying for you and your ministry this Monday.
So let it be written, so let it be done.
johnthebaptist15 