What do you remember about John the Baptist in the Bible? Do you remember he was the forerunner to Jesus? Do you remember he was the one who baptized Jesus in the river? He tried to stop Jesus when Jesus asked to be baptized by him. However, after Jesus did some convincing, he finally gave in. But John was also a strange little fellow, wouldn’t you say? The Bible said he lived in the Judean desert for a long time. While he was there, he wore clothes made of camel’s hair, and he ate locusts and wild honey. Strange.
One of the things we sometimes forget about John the Baptist is that he also had a miraculous birth, much like the birth of Jesus. The Bible said that John’s parents, Zachariah and Elizabeth, were both “righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.” But it also said that they were childless. Elizabeth was barren, and she and Zachariah had become very old. It is possible to me the villagers talked behind their back, and believed that even though Elizabeth and Zachariah were righteous, they might have sinned against God in some way that the villagers didn’t know about, and this was the reason why God did not reward them with a child. Not good. They would not have a descendant after Zachariah’s name. Again, not good. It had been a long time since God spoke to his people. Really bad news.
But after 400 years of silence, God made a move. Zachariah and Elizabeth would have a son in their old age. Really good news. It was a miracle from God! As if the birth was not miraculous enough, this child was going to be God’s unique and very special servant. He would announce to the people that the Christ was coming, call on the people to repent, and baptize them, all in preparation for the coming of Christ. All the OT prophets pointed to the Christ from a distance. John the Baptist would be the only prophet to point to the Christ in the flesh. He would be the one who pointed to the world the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Therefore, Merry Christmas to you! Come this Sunday on the first day of Advent to ponder the things John the Baptist said and did to prepare the world for the arrival of our King. After you feast on the turkey, and before you arrive at church this Sunday, please read what Luke wrote about him in Luke 1:5–25, 39–45, 57–66. See you Sunday.
Your Friend
Alvin