At the end of 2023 and as appropriate for my own spiritual edification, I reread the ancient Bethlehem story. It was noticeable that many historical birth details are recorded in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke but omitted by Mark. If his writings were a gospel about Jesus, why did Mark so immediately launch into a description of another’s ministry (John the Baptist) and omit details of Jesus’ birth-story? Cf. Mark 1. A thorough reading of Mark’s gospel will help answer this question. For Mark the question for his original audience and perhaps most urgently for us is how to follow Messiah in these trying times. How does one take on the mantle of a disciple and live a set-apart life in 2024? Consider some of the following observations about John the Baptist.
Observations
- “And so John came, baptizing in the desert region”. Who is this John the Baptist? Why his ministry of baptism and why such a remote location? First, consider all that was recorded by Matthew and Luke about John’s birth.
- John was named by an angel Lk 1:13
- Prophesied over by an angel to his father/priest, Zechariah Lk.1:11-17
- ‘will be a joy and delight to Zechariah and a cause of rejoicing for many’ 1:14-15
- he will be ‘great in the sight of the Lord’ Lk.1:15
- it was further prophesied that John was to live an austere, set-apart lifestyle like those who take on a Nazarite vow cf. Numbers 6:2; 1 Sam.2:8-28; Judges 13:1-5
- The angel also prophesied about the outcomes and characteristics of John’s ministry Lk 1:16-17 he will go on before the Lord, manner of ministry ‘in spirit and power of Elijah, purpose: to turn hearts of fathers to their children and disobedient to the wisdom of righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. Vv.16-17
- God sovereignly oversees the affairs of men. Eg. who parents are, where we live, the times and seasons in which we live, out neighbors, our city officials. True for John the Baptist and for Jesus and for us. Read Acts 13:36 For David, after he had served his own Generation by the will of God, fell asleep and was laid unto his Fathers. God determines the times set for people and the exact place where they should live ‘appointed times and places’ Ecc.3:1-6; Lev.23:1-2; Acts 17:26-27
- In our places of ‘appointment’ God calls us to faithfulness! Raw obedience. Difficult obedience. Read again Mark 1. Treasure this example of John the Baptist…he was non-traditional, rejecting the affluence/influence of societal accoutrements. He settled for the lifestyle of a metaphorical wanderer cf. Matt.11:7-19. Earth was not his home. Jesus’ exploited John’s example with this point: ‘among those born…has not risen anyone greater than John Baptist, yet he who is least…is greater than he’ Matt.11:11. John served the Kingdom with obedience as we ought. Yes. Jesus associated John the Baptist with the Prophet Elijah Mt.11:14, yet in the season of John’s death, John didn’t witness the finished Work of Christ. Many others were the eye-witnesses to Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection and their testimony has been passed on to us. John’s season was not that long. But he still had his season. And what about you? This is your appointed season. Will you be like John and live now the disciples’ life? Will you be such an example that others are stirred to follow? Will you persevere and be so bold that others pick up your mantel when you are gone? If others watched you, would it become obvious to them that you are clearly a convicted associate of Jesus ?
- While there was a point in John’s life that doubts paused his purpose and prompted his inquiry again about the Messiah whom He proclaimed. The Lord Jesus replied to him (and us) that He would bear the greater suffering but offers the assurance of hope and eternal life. “Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me” Matthew 11:6 (blessed=to acknowledge and experience God’s promises).
What’s your conclusion? Throughout Scripture, the Divine Author would portray John the Baptist as a model disciple. In his time and place, he did, in fact, act faithfully, live zealously, and trust Christ until the very end. May we allow our follower-ship to be like his follower-ship as he followed Christ. Carpe Diem
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