Tag: John the Baptist

Posted in Advent devotions

Warming up the audience

Posted on by William Douthwaite

Before the featured comedian takes the stage, there’s always few up-and-coming funny guys and gals whose job is to get the crowd laughing. This is their chance to showcase their material and land some future gigs.

John the Baptist, just six months older than Jesus, had the distinction of being his cousin. They kind of met when their pregnant moms got together. In the presence of the unborn incarnate Jesus, John jumped inside his mother.

Do you think they ever spent time together before Jesus shows up at the Jordan to be baptized by John? I like to think they did. As John’s popularity goes through the roof and everyone comes out to hear his preaching and get baptized, He knows he’s just the warm up act for the headliner. And he knows how to stir the crowd into a frenzy. His preaching gets them prepared for the advent of the long-awaited Savior.

John’s is a bittersweet role. Sure, he’s insanely popular, but he has remind his audience that he’s not the Christ. He’s never going to be the star. His popularity will wane as Jesus’s grows. His disciples would abandon him to follow Jesus. He’s not the one. Not even close. Not even good enough to tie Jesus’s shoes.

You and I can’t change people. We want to. But we can’t fix anyone. Only God can do that. All we can do is give people a little taste of what his love, mercy, and forgiveness is like. We can be the appetizer.

John the Baptist gets an ornament on the Jesse Tree. He is the fulfillment of a promised “voice in the wilderness” that gets people ready for the Advent of the Lord. (When John baptizes Jesus, the Holy Spirit descends like a dove.)

Posted in Advent devotions

The Cast of Advent: December 8 – John (the Baptist)

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Candra Winata on Unsplash

“You shall call his name John” (Luke 1:13).

John is a miracle baby. His parents Zechariah and Elizabeth had resigned themselves to growing old together with no children. But God had other plans. Well, actually, he had just one plan, and their son John was a part of it. He would make ready a people prepared the for the Lord.

Even before he was born, John was excited about the arrival of the Messiah. As soon as his mom Elizabeth heard Mary say, “Hi!” he leapt for joy in her womb! John’s popularity would soar when he began preaching in the wilderness. “Just wait,” he explained. “Someone much greater than me is coming.”

In what must have seemed like a split-second, John’s ratings plummeted. He was thrown in prison until his head was served up on a platter. But he knew. John knew his life would fade as the Lamb of God was glorified.

He was like the rabbit in a mile race. The rabbit goes out fast to make sure the field runs at a record pace. The rabbit won’t win the race. In fact, he doesn’t even finish. A lap or two in, he steps off the track and a much better runner will break the tape at the finish line.

John knew that. In fact, every time someone spoke to him, he would be reminded of that. The name John means “Yahweh is gracious.” His whole identity was tied up in pointing people to the Lord.

When I remember that Jesus came into this world for me, lived a perfect life for me, died on a cross for me and rose from the dead for me, I remember that I really find my identity in who he is. When I proclaim who he is, I know exactly who I am. I’m a child of God because he is the Son of God.

Thank you, Lord, for reminding me of who I am – your dearly loved child. To you be the glory! Amen.