The Baptizer, John

December 11, 2022

Isaiah had prophesied that one would prepare the way of the Lord to come, “The

one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths

straight”. In Mark chapter one and verse four, we are told that John was that person

who “preached the baptism of repentance unto the remission of sins”. We are also

told that all from Judea and Jerusalem went out to the Jordan to be baptized as they

confessed their sins. They, like us, knew their condition and were looking for the

solution to life. How John appeared in camel hair clothing and what he chose to eat

did not detract from the message nor hinder the response. He was declaring the

coming Christ Jesus. Overwhelmed by humility as he was, the forerunner of Jesus

hesitated when Jesus came to him to be baptized. He questioned why Jesus would

need baptized and Jesus gave the best of all reasons for being baptized: to please

God who had commanded the same and thus to “fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew

3:13). It was God’s pleasure that Jesus sought and it was God’s approval that he

received. As he was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven open and the Spirit

like a dove descending upon him: and then came a voice from heaven, saying,

“Thou art my beloved son in whom I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11). His obedience

to John’s inspired words apparently garnered God’s blessing and your obedience

just might do the same. Surely we are wise enough to conclude what our

rebelliousness deserves from God. Israel figured that out after their bondage in

Egypt and Babylon. However, it seems we are not quite there yet. We do not heed

the preaching of the Word nor do we humbly submit to the clear teaching of Jesus.

It seems we do wish to please God but are more inclined to please ourselves. Our

religion is one of convenience more than conviction, but it should not be so. John

stood strong even when confronting the king, was put in prison, and finally

beheaded for his fidelity to our God. Jesus was crucified because he chose to ‘do’

the Father’s will instead of his own, but some would have us believe that we need

not obey (just have faith like the demons in James 2:19 and you will be saved).

How tragic that John and Jesus were both so ill-informed and ignorant as to think

God’s will was more important than their own.

Kenneth E. Morrison