John the Baptist still prepares us for the Lord

JOHN THE BAPTIST STILL PREPARES US FOR THE LORD

Mt. 2: 1-11

God had mapped out the life of John the Baptist. He was to be the forerunner of Jesus. He was born to elderly parents. A prophetic figure who lived a solitary and ascetic life. He attracted a circle of disciples. He proclaimed that God’s Kingdom was near and that men and women should repent, receive baptism and do good works. The climax of his life was when Jesus came to him for baptism. John did not want this. He said, “I need to be baptised by You, and do You come to me?” But Jesus insisted that John should baptise Him. John realised what a sacred moment Jesus’ baptism was for as soon as Jesus came from the water he saw the heavens opened and a dove descend over Jesus and he heard a voice say, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

At some point after baptising Jesus, John was imprisoned by Herod Antipas, ruler of Galilee. The reason was that John had denounced Herod’s illegal marriage to Herodias, the divorced wife of his half-brother Philip. Prison is never easy for any man and was certainly not for John who had spent his days in the wide open spaces of the desert. In the dark, damp dungeon he found himself in, he now had time to think about his past life and what the future had in store for him. There are some who think that John had doubts and began to wonder if he had wasted his life, and if Jesus really was the one who was to come. This could be so, for Satan has ways of sowing doubts and negative thoughts in our minds. I like to think that John was firm in his belief that Jesus was the Messiah.

While John was in prison he thought about his disciples who were missing him. He knew his work for them was done. Now he had to wean them away from following him and lead them in the direction of Jesus. When they came to visit him in prison he sent them to Jesus with the question, “Are you the Messiah, the one we are waiting for?” He knew that listening to Jesus, and witnessing His works, would make them realise that He was the long awaited Messiah. He was right, for Jesus said, “Go and tell John all the miracles you have seen which only the promised Messiah could perform.” When they returned to tell John this he was pleased, for now surely they would leave him to follow Jesus, the Messiah. He could be assured that his work was done. He could now face death which he knew was sure to come soon.

In Jesus’ answer to John’s disciples He had words which were intended for both John and his disciples, “Blessed is the man who does not lose faith in Me.” To John, Jesus was saying, “You have known all along that I am the Messiah and that you are the prophet to proclaim My coming.

Now when your future looks bleak don’t give up, hang in there and trust that God will give you all the help you will need to face your future.” To John’s disciples, Jesus was saying, “You’ve seen the works of a Messiah, give your allegiance to all that I have to offer.”

Once again in our run up to Christmas John the Baptist is doing the work for which he is best known, preparing us for the coming of Jesus. He is telling us to repent as he told the Jews of his time? For us it will mean making a humble and sincere Confession.

Lord Jesus, each day like Mary let us look forward to Your birthday. May we welcome You afresh in our hearts. As we prepare our gifts for our loved ones let us not fail to thank our heavenly Father for the best gift we shall receive this Christmas, namely, You His Son.

Come Lord Jesus.

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