Have you ever seen someone so different, so unique that you wondered who it was? You ask those around you but did not find an answer that satisfied your curiosity. Finally, you could not stand it and you went to the person and ask, “Who are you?” This was the situation in John chapter one. When the Jews heard the stir of a man that was gaining a following, they sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to find out who he was. They wanted to know why he was baptizing those who professed to believe in Christ. He quickly told them he was not the Christ. They ask if he was a prophet or Elijah who had come back from the dead. Again, he denies their thoughts and proclaims he was “crying in the wilderness.” He was preparing the people for the Messiah that he was preaching about. We could equate this to those who proclaim the gospel to those who have never heard of Jesus, or those who do not know enough to be saved. He was a strong and humble leader. He wanted everything he did to point to Christ. This man is John.
John 1:19-23 “And this is the record of John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elijah? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Isaiah.
John had been preparing for this time all of His life. He was the son of Zechariah and Elisabeth and she was the cousin of Mary. They had prayed for a child, and now in their old age God had blessed them, and in a few months, John would be born. When the angel told Mary she was with child, she went to spend time with Elisabeth. When Mary entered the room with Elisabeth, John, in the womb, leaped in the presence of Jesus in the womb. This baby would grow up to be the forerunner of Jesus. He would prepare the way for others to hear and believe.
John 1:24-26 “And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizes thou then if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there stands one among you, whom ye know not; He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose. These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.”
He was known for being simple with a purpose. He spent much time in the desert preparing to usher in the Messiah. He preached repentance. He wore clothing made from camel hair and a leather belt. His meals consisted of locusts and wild honey. He was about one thing telling people about Jesus.
Matthew 3:1-4 “In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’” Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.”
One day while baptizing those who had repented, he looks and sees Jesus coming and declares, “Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.”
John 1:29-30 “The next day John sees Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said after me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.”
After announcing to the people that Jesus was in their presence, He baptizes Jesus. John did not feel worthy, but Jesus insisted. The one who could forgive sins and make it possible for us to be reconciled to a holy God. He heralds the truth no matter who the audience was. In Matthew chapter 3, we see the baptizing of Jesus. John did not feel worthy to do it, but Jesus told him to do it and he obeyed. John was blessed to see the Heavens opened, Holy Spirit in the form of a dove coming down and lighting upon Him, and hear God declare His pleasure in the event. WOW! This would be the beginning of Jesus public ministry and because of his love and obedience, John was allowed to witness and participate.
Matthew 3:13-17 “Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
John never backed down from the truth of Jesus as the Messiah. He stood for truth no matter the consequences. He was martyred for his faith. Herod bound him and put him in prison because he reprimanded Herod for living with Herod’s brother’s wife. At Herod’s birthday bash, the daughter of Herodias danced for Herod a lascivious dance. He was so “pleased” by her dance he offered to give her whatever she asks. Her mother instructed her to ask for the head of John the Baptist on a charger. Herod did not want to have John killed, but he did.
Matthew 14:3-8 “For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife. For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod. Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger.”
John’s life was so much more than this devotional contains, but it shows us that our life lived out for Christ without compromising is a blessed life. John experienced the freedom that this world knows nothing about. He is free from this world to the Heavenly realm. He is being rewarded for all eternity for his faith and obedience. Who was this man? He was a man sold out 100% to Jesus!
John 8:36 “If the Son, therefore, shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
