What Can We Learn from John the Baptist - Matthew 3

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John the Baptist Prepares the Way

3 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
    make straight paths for him.’”[a]
4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan.6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

Today we meet John the Baptist, Jesus' cousin through the relationship between his mom Mary, and her relative Elizabeth.  John was prophet in the tradition of the Nazirites who took vows of purity.  Many Nazirite prophets lived austere lives, and often spent time in the wilderness in preparation for the role God had for them.  At this time in the life of Israel, the people had not heard from a prophet in a long time.  John had a special role in that he was a prophet who announced the coming of Jesus, the Son of God.  His role was to prepare the way for Jesus.  

As we read today John also baptized Jesus, though reluctantly.  John knew Jesus' role and tried to defer realizing he needed to be baptized by Jesus, but Jesus had John baptize him to fulfill all righteousness.  Jesus was being obedient to God as a human being.  And this marks a special moment in Jesus' ministry as the Holy Spirit comes upon him and anoints him to begin his public ministry at the age of 30.  From now on Jesus' main message will be "repent for the kingdom has come near", also translated "has come upon us".  

What can we learn from John?

1. He waited in obedience for God's call to his role to introduce Jesus' ministry to all people both Jews and Gentiles. 

2. He prepared by setting himself apart in the wilderness and avoided the distractions of the world. 

3. He clearly knew Jesus was greater than him, and he knew that he needed to "decrease in order for Jesus to increase".  

What can this mean for us this year?
It means being aware that God has a plan for each of us, which is in some way related to announcing Jesus to the world.  This will probably not be with a "megaphone" but with our words and actions.  John waited on God to act and was ready when it was his time to announce who Jesus was.  Lastly, we need to decrease in order for Jesus to increase in our lives and ministry.  It is easy for ministry to become all about us.  But ministry should always point to Jesus.  We are merely vessels for God's love for the people God puts in our lives.  

Repentance means to change one's mind that leads to a change in behavior.  Sounds a lot like a New Year's resolution, but which much deeper implications for God's kingdom.  My life changes when I am in God's word and realize how God wants to change my thinking, which results in a change of how I act and talk.  I fully realize that I am not perfect and make many mistakes on a daily basis, which is why I need to daily repent and commit myself each day to following Jesus as his disciple.  We will learn more about this tomorrow when we see Jesus calling his first disciples.  

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