A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”
Isaiah 40:3
John the Baptist was a curious character. You can admit it: we all think he was weird for wearing camel skin and a leather belt and eating locusts and wild honey. Here’s a guy out in the Judean wilderness proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 3:2). Sounds like the opening scene of a doomsday movie.
People came from all over to hear John preach, to confess their sins, and to be baptized. Jesus also came to John and was baptized, even though John felt unworthy to do it (who wouldn’t?!). Jesus’ public ministry began to increase after some hard core testing in the wilderness for 40 days. John’s ministry took on a lesser role (John 3:28-31).
King Herod didn’t like John because John was calling him out for sleeping with his brother’s wife, Herodias. So, he put him in prison. Then, after being mesmerized by the dancing of the daughter of his adultery partner, Herod vowed by oath to give her whatever she asked. Herodias directed her to ask for John’s head, and that’s what she got – on a platter (Matthew 14:1-12; also Mark 6:14-29). Not a very fitting ending to the physical life of the man with the spirit of Elijah who prepared the way for the coming of the Lord.
John was beheaded merely for speaking the truth about another man’s sin. Many are in prison today for similar reasons. The truth can often be a source of anger to those walking in sin.
John the Baptist’s life mission is the exactly the same as ours. Like John, we are called to announce that Jesus is coming. For John, it was in regards to Christ’s First Coming. For us, it is the Second (and Final) Coming. We need to proclaim that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). And we should believe it and share it to the point of being willing to go to prison or be beheaded for it.
In the meantime, we must also heed John’s words that in our lives, Jesus “must become greater; I must become less”. We are here to do the will of God, not our own will. This is hard to do without constant effort. It is a daily battle against our sinful human nature, but with the help of the indwelt Holy Spirit, we can do it.