“I am not the Christ but I have been sent before Him. He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3: 28, 30 NKJV).
Instead of following Zacharias’ footsteps as Temple priest, his only son John became a humble and bold man of God. He ate wild locusts with honey, dressed in animal skins and proclaimed, ‘there’s One coming mightier than I, whose sandal I’m not worthy to unlatch’ (John 1:27).
Isaiah spoke 700 years earlier of the Baptists’ arrival, the prophet Jews had been waiting for “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. The Glory of the Lord shall be revealed, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken” (Isaiah 4:3-5 NKJV).
John the Baptist preached repentance. He ushered in the Kingdom of God’s Anointed Messiah. He introduced Jesus saying, “Look the Lamb of God! He takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29 NIV).
When John baptized his relative Jesus, he experienced the most glorious moment in his short life. God’s purpose for John was complete. In the river Jordan both Jesus and John heard their Father’s voice “The moment Jesus came up out of the baptismal waters, the skies opened up and he saw God’s Spirit---it looked like a dove---descending and landing on Him. And along with the Spirit, a voice: “This is My Son, chosen and marked by My love, delight of My life” (Matthew 3:16-17 Message).
The baptizer made it clear he was the messenger not the message. Before he was arrested and beheaded, he urged his own disciples to follow the Lamb “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11 NKJV).
Jesus alone, is the Word [message]---sent from Father God to redeem mankind and restore that holy relationship lost in Eden.
In himself, nothing; In God, everything.
-A. W. Tozer
