The Forerunner of Christ
“In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea.” Matthew 3:1
We’re coming up on the time of year when we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ after His crucifixion. There were many who came before Christ in order to prepare the way for Him including many Old Testament prophets. The last Old Testament prophet was Malachi, and he was the last prophet until John the Baptist came on the scene over 400 years later. I can’t imagine what it was like during those 400 plus years when God was basically silent. Generations came and went, but God always has His remnant who remains faithful to Him, and those believers of ancient Israel would have passed down His word to each succeeding generation. However, many, without the benefit of preachers and teachers, would have lived as they pleased and were in dire need of someone to reveal God’s truth to them. And then along came John the Baptist.
I consider John one of the great heroes of the Bible. He was a second cousin to Jesus; his mother, Elizabeth, and Jesus’ mother, Mary, were first cousins (Luke 1:36). He was born about six months before Jesus was born. After Mary learned she would give birth to the Savior, she went to visit Elizabeth. When Mary greeted her, baby John “leaped in Elizabeth’s womb”. (This is one proof that an unborn baby is more than a blob of tissue as the pro-choice people maintain.) When John became an adult, he preached repentance to the people of Israel as preparation for the coming of the ministry of the Son of God. He lived a very austere life, wearing clothes made of camel’s hair and leather and surviving on locusts and wild honey (Matthew 3:4).
He preached boldly to the Pharisees and the Sadducees, who depended on their own self-righteousness, calling them a generation of vipers (Matthew 3:7). John’s boldness and dedication to righteousness also caused him to land in jail. He had fearlessly told Herod, the ruler over Galilee, that he was guilty of adultery because he had married Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. Strangely, Herod feared John and actually enjoyed John’s preaching, but Herodias hated John. Herod gave a party where Herodias’ daughter danced for the guests. To reward her, Herod promised to give her whatever she asked. Her mother persuaded her to ask for John’s head on a platter. Herod didn’t want to have John beheaded, but he couldn’t go back on his oath (Matthew 14:3-12). John died because he stood for righteousness. He completely understood what Jesus meant when He said one who follows Him must deny himself.
Today many are afraid to call sin, sin because they might “offend” someone. Thus, to many folks, sin is not a big deal. But it is a big deal to God. He sent His only begotten Son to suffer and die because of man’s sin. Those who are brave enough to tell the truth are called all sorts of names. I am glad that John the Baptist wasn’t worried about being called a “racist” or a “hater” or some other derogatory name. He was willing to put his life on the line to promote the coming of the Son of God and the righteousness that Christ gives to those who are called by His name, a name which is above every name (Philippians 2:9b). And that is the name of which we should never be ashamed or offended.