John the Baptizer: A faith that challenges others • Matthew 3:1-12
By Becky Brown
The Old Testament is a massive billboard with a big, red arrow pointing to Jesus. The creation, the fall, the flood, the Jewish nation, the Exodus, the conquest, the judges, the kings, the prophets, the exile and captivity, the remnant returning — all point to Jesus. The Covenant of God is the huge, red, perfect bow that ties it all together, gifting completely sinful humanity with a present we have never deserved.
The Old Testament closes, ushering in a 400 year period of silence providing a time of building Messianic hopefulness. The prophet Malachi reminded his generation that a messenger like Elijah was coming to prepare the way for “The One” mentioned in Isaiah 40. They were to listen for a voice crying in the wilderness to clear a path for the Lord.
Toward the end of that extended time of hopeful waiting, Zachariah met Elizabeth. His name means “God remembers.” Her name means “my oath.” How fitting for God to use those two to become the elderly (miracle birth) parents of the Forerunner of the Messiah. Surely they should name their child something amazingly significant. God said name him John which means “Jehovah is a gracious giver” and all God’s people said, “Yes! He is!”
Zachariah and Elizabeth both descended from Levitical priests. Their son John came from good people, as we say in the South. Zachariah recognized through prophecy and testified through a message of God (see Luke 1) that his son WAS the promised Forerunner of the soon-to-come Messiah. Elizabeth was related to Mary. Their mutual birth “Announcer” was the angel Gabriel dispatched directly from God. John recognized “cousin” Jesus from womb to womb when (newly pregnant) Mary showed up to spend some time with (six-months-along pregnant) Elizabeth.
John was seen as a bit of an “odd” fellow in his day. He wore camel hair clothing and a leather belt. He ate bugs and wild honey. He lived in the wilderness area of Judea near the Dead Sea. He was raised as a “Nazarite” from birth which meant he lived life not shaving and not cutting his hair as fulfillment of a special vow of holiness toward God. No wine. No contact with dead bodies. I’m sure that some thought he was a lunatic. Matthew 3:3 confirms that John indeed WAS the prophesied “Elijah.” They wore the same clothing and issued scathing messages that pointed out fake and falsehood.
The word of the Lord came to Elijah. Word from the same Lord came to John the Baptizer. Both prophets were faithful to pass that word right along to the people. John the Baptizer was the final prophetic word before the coming of Jesus. God had this planned from before the foundation of the world.
John even got folks pre-acquainted with the first word Jesus would declare as He began His earthly ministry: REPENT! Come to Jesus! Stop going the wrong way. Change your mind. Change your heart. Turn around. Leave sin and follow the Author of Salvation.
John rubbed almost everyone the wrong way. He didn’t mince words. Rich people, share with the poor! Tax collectors, stop being thieves for Rome! Pharisees and Saducees (Jewish leaders proud of their robes and roles), check the fruit you are producing — it’s rotten! He called them a brood of vipers. When they showed up at the Jordan River to be baptized by John, he verbally stripped them to bare bones with his words. In their circles, the only person less popular than John would be Jesus.
When people heard about John the Baptizer, they thought he might be the Messiah. To that, John was heard to say, “He must increase. I must decrease. I am unworthy to touch, untie or even carry the shoes of Jesus. Behold, look there, pay attention…here comes the Lamb of God Who came to take away the sins of this world!”
Jesus came to John for baptism even though He had committed zero sins. Jesus gave the example for us to follow with baptism after repentance and confession. God spoke approvingly from Heaven. The Holy Spirit gave full validation with His presence. The Tri-Unity was there in fullness. John must have been humbly overjoyed on that memorable day.
John the Baptizer was beheaded for exposing grievous sins of current Roman leadership. Fear lost. Faith won. Jesus ascended the well-prepared stage declaring, “REPENT!”
Brown leads LittleBrownLight Ministries.
