John the Baptist
Open Your Bible
Matthew 3:1-17, Matthew 11:1-15, Matthew 14:1-12
BY Rebecca Faires
Somehow, I cannot picture John the Baptist as a multitasker. I don’t imagine he was smooth at dinner parties. I don’t reckon he cared much for distractions. He strikes me as someone who knew the one thing he was about, and he was deeply invested in that one thing. He was called to prepare the way of the Lord (Matthew 3:3), and by the grace of God, he was able to go about his business with that singular focus.
The life of John the Baptist is such a brilliant reminder to bring us back to the one thing we are about. And I don’t mean writing that novel, or going on a trip, or even perfecting our relationships. I’m talking about the one thing we are all, first and foremost, supposed to be about: the person of Jesus Christ.
John fixed his sights wholly upon proclaiming the coming kingdom. His wilderness living was not just a weird lifestyle choice, but an unbending commitment to prayer and the Word of God. His devotion to Christ and His kingdom are particularly evident in two defining features of John’s life, and these two features should drive us to the same wholehearted seeking of God’s kingdom.
First, John’s humility provokes us to bend our knees before the lordship of Christ. John was the greater Elijah, indeed, and according to Jesus, John was the greatest man to have yet walked the earth (Matthew 11:11). Yet John’s chief calling was to point the way to Christ who would bring the kingdom of heaven along with Him. Though John himself was the greatest of the prophets, he did not yield to the temptation of pride. Instead, he declared to his followers:
“I baptize you with water for repentance,
but the one who is coming after me is more powerful than I.
I am not worthy to remove his sandals.
He himself will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11).
John further displayed this kind of humility when his own disciples began to abandon him to follow after Jesus, acknowledging: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). If John, the greatest of the prophets, so readily yielded up everything to Christ, how much more ought we do the same? The humility of John the Baptist is a reminder of the greatness of Christ.
Second, John’s courage provokes us to honor the lordship of Christ in faith-filled obedience. John did not hesitate to proclaim the gospel. His cry was continual: “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!” (Matthew 3:2). He offended the selfish pride in the hearts of the Pharisees and Sadducees, calling out their sin and declaring that they, too, must bow the knee to the true Lord of heaven and earth (vv.7–10).
He declares the same thing to us: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come! He proclaimed this message of the gospel—both its condemnation of sin, and its offer of salvation—even in the face of death. He called sin, sin, a thing we are often hesitant to do in this day and age. And he boldly proclaimed Christ as both Lord and Savior. Such courage only comes from knowing that Christ is Lord over all, and therefore, we need not fear the powers of earth. Such courage only comes from knowing that Christ is the Lamb of God, and therefore, we rest secure in the salvation He has purchased.
51 thoughts on "John the Baptist"
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When reading about John his humility and obedience is what stuck out to me the most. And I thought to myself would I be that willing to give up all my life, luxury and comforts to preach the gospel? John is a reflection of what I want to be, but I am so far off in some ways. Lord, help me look to you like John did. Not because of John, but because you were John’s desire. ♡
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CHURCHMOUSE THANK YOUNGOR YOUR THOUGHTS! ♡
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Hi Taylor, not sure if you will see this but I will leave it for future readers. We need to speak the truth to people who have chosen not to acknowledge racism. And pray. Only God can change a heart but right now, we need to partner with God and speak truth about the value of Black lives, the systemic racism that goes on, understand and confront our own roles in those systems, and promise to continue to educate ourselves. And hold people accountable in positions of power, when we know better we do better. Thank you for continuing the conversation.
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Amen!
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Love this reflection on the character of John. He was straightforward and unafraid to speak up about the gospel and bring up uncomfortable conversations (even with his brother Philip’s relationship). He was unafraid of vocalizing what sin is and how we ought to repent. I’m really inspired by his focus and the commitment he had to make the gospel center of who he is. Thank you for this devotion!
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Amen.
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Matt 11:6 – “Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of me”
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The passage that stuck out to me this reading was about the Pharisees. How they wanted to get baptized because it had become trendy, but John told them if you’re heart wasn’t into it, it really didn’t count. If fruits are not produced, then what is the point? It made me think of my life. Are fruits produced? Am I just a loud gong? I feel at times as if I have done nothing for the kingdom. There are times when I see glimmers of what could be. Times when I’ve ministered to people and let God talk through me, but for the most part, I stay to myself. I feel as if my fear holds me back. I don’t feel my anxiety is a sin, but what I do with it is. I need to get myself out there more. Be less afraid of my own shadow. It’s not like I’ll be alone. I’ll have Christ there who will strengthen me.
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Diana Fleenor: Thank you for your posts yesterday on racial reconciliation. I agree with you that in order to see lasting change we need ALL hearts to be changed by the salvation found only in Jesus. I’m curious for your perspective on people who claim to be Christians yet disagree that our Black brothers and sisters in Christ are experiencing racial injustices in our current day and age. I never get involved in “Facebook fights” but I have seen many people who claim to be Christians so vehemently disagree or negate the fact that we need systemic change so our Black brothers and sisters can experience true equity in our society. I look up your wisdom and am thankful for your responses to my questions here at SRT in the past, so I am looking for your insight on this issue. Also open to anyone else who wants to share their perspective :)
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I have a different perspective because I whole heartedly believe in Kingdom focus. Remember that we are here for the purpose of glorifying God alone. He made us differently and has different plans for all of us. It is of my opinion that the only being that matters is our Father, not elevating or belittling any man or woman. God matters. We are to treat our brothers and sisters with the love of Christ for the glory of the father, not the glory of a people. The Church is made up of one people who stand unified and devoted to Him and Him alone. If we get caught up in cultural politics we are straying from our singular purpose. We are not even to consider race or racial groups. I don’t believe in BLM not because I’m racist and not because I don’t believe in equality and not because I’m not a Christian. It is because I am a Christian. We all too often forget that nothing of this world is about any man or woman. It is about God and God alone. Racially motivated groups take the focus off of God and moves it to man. In short, BLM does not bring glory to God.
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