The Role of John the Baptist: A Voice Crying in the Wilderness Matt.11:11

A Voice

            John the Baptist. He wrote no epistles and none of his sermons were preserved for us to read.  And yet Jesus said there was never a greater prophet than John the Baptist. But when they asked John who he was, he said of himself, “I am just a voice, crying in the wilderness”.

            John was sent from God. He had a purpose: to bear witness that Jesus is the world’s Light. He was born to point to Jesus and say, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”.  John knew that he was not worthy to untie Jesus’ shoes.  He knew that he would decrease while Jesus increased.  He also knew that it might cost him his head. Still, he raised his voice to declare that Jesus was the Son of God.   

Even though he knew all this, he was happy to be nothing more than ” A voice crying in the wilderness”.

          Sometimes I wonder if there are any modern-day Christians who get this. Pastors must spend all their time refereeing fights. They also spend time soothing hurt feelings. This is because of church members who wish to be the greatest in the church. I am convinced most local churches are severely hindered today. This is a result of so many people who think they are much too important to be nothing but “A voice crying in the wilderness.”

            Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all God’s people were consumed with a desire to point people to Jesus? We are born again for this purpose. Jesus must increase and we must decrease. We must be willing to lose our heads for the privilege of declaring that Jesus is The Son of God.

Behold the Kingdom of Heaven is near. We must be satisfied to be nothing but, “A voice crying in the wilderness.”

“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the Prophets: “Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.” “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’ ” John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.

And he preached, saying, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Mark 1:1-8 NKJV

https://bible.com/bible/114/mrk.1.1-8.NKJV

Douglas & Deborah Huff

From Down Where the Pavement Ends

www.pavementendsministry.com

Email-douglas@pavementendsministry.com