Advent, as we’ve heard over the last couple of weeks, is a time to prepare ourselves for the day when Jesus comes. We’ve recalled the example of the patriarchs and prophets, and now we come to John the Baptist. So who was John? What can we learn from him?
John the Baptist is spoken of in all four of the gospels. Mark’s gospel includes John in chapter one, and so does John’s as we heard in our reading. He was an important figure, a man of influence, an essential character in the story of Jesus, and yet he didn’t big himself up. Quite the opposite was true - he prepared the way of the Lord, as he was called to do, and then not only did he back off gracefully, but he became a martyr for speaking out. He did speak out quite vociferously! He upset the authorities. He challenged Herod, upsetting his wife (Mark 6:18,19). He called the Pharisees and Sadducees a ‘brood of vipers’. (Matthew (3:7).
John’s father was a temple priest in the order of Abijah - this was one of the orders of Levites set up by King David to look after the temple he intended to build. John’s mother was a Levite too, descended from Aaron. And so he was from the priestly ancestry of the patriarch Jacob. He was a prophet too, proclaiming the words given to him by God, some of which were from the scriptures, particularly from the prophet Isaiah.
Prophecy isn’t only about foretelling the future. Everything we are given by God to pass on to other people is prophecy. We’ve all been asked to pray that this year will be a prophetic one in our diocese of Norwich.
The angel Gabriel told John’s father that the child would be filled with the Holy Spirit of God even before he’d been born. He was never to drink wine or strong drink. John lived in the wilderness. He wore clothes made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. This was not a comfortable lifestyle, he must have been very self-disciplined.
Over the centuries, God had sent prophets to call the people to task when they went astray. John the Baptist reminded the people of that, through his appearance, lifestyle and words. He proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, and used water as a symbol for the spiritual cleansing people would receive if they confessed and changed their ways. They went out to him, in their droves, to accept, surely knowing that they hadn’t been doing what was right in God’s eyes - not sharing their resources, not caring for their fellow human beings. Tax collectors had been over-charging people. Soldiers had been threatening people or falsely accusing them, to extort money.
The people were also filled with expectation as they had been promised by God through the prophets a Messiah, an anointed King. Was it John? No. John made it clear that he was the messenger, the front runner who had come to announce the good news that the king was near, so get ready.
On the one hand, then, we see the people reflecting upon their own lives, recognising their wrongdoing and changing their ways as they face the future prospect of the day of the Lord. On the other hand, they’re excited at the good news of the coming of a powerful king, sent by God. These two aspects remain with us. They stand hand in hand through the Advent season. It’s a time of preparation, and a time of anticipation for all of us.
So - what can we learn from John the Baptist?
We might follow his example of courage, speaking out loudly and clearly against those who are harming others: encouraging repentance, influencing others for the good, teaching people the right way to behave, preparing the way for the coming of Christ.
We might follow his example of humility, being ready to bow before Jesus and to accept his service graciously.
We might follow his example of self-control, living a simple life which works with the natural environment we find ourselves in.
We might follow his example of readiness to listen to God and the words of the scriptures, and to pass on what we are given by the Holy Spirit in a prophetic way, one which glorifies God and not ourselves.
We might follow his example by telling people the good news about Jesus, encouraging them to see for themselves, to accept him into their lives, and to be baptised or confirmed.
This would not be the baptism by water alone which John offered, but the baptism of the one who calls us, the one who is faithful, the one who came to us 2000 years ago, who is with us now, and who will be with us, the one whose sandals we are not worthy to tie, the one who baptises with the Holy Spirit and with fire, the one who invites every one of us to feast at the table with Him - the one John the Baptist was sent to proclaim, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Julie Rubidge, Lay Minister