Christmas 2023 – Part II – John

December 6, 2023

This is the second post for the four weeks leading up to Christmas. We’re taking a short look at a few of those God chose to be part of the Jesus’ birth. Like last week, nothing theologically surprising or deep, just a few insights from God’s Word.

Last week we talked about Zechariah. You can find that post at Christmas 2023 – Part I – Zechariah.

This week, I’d like to delve a little into one of Jesus’ relatives, John the Baptist. Depending on which Bible translation you read, some say John’s mother, Elizabeth, was Mary’s relative, and some say she was Mary’s cousin. If they were indeed cousins, John would have been Jesus’ second cousin. Either way, John and Jesus were related.

This week’s photo was taken on the same trip to San Francisco that I took the picture of the Christmas Trolley. The photo is of a gingerbread house in the lobby of the hotel we stayed in. Now, I’d say that’s a pretty extravagant gingerbread house, probably the most elaborate I’ve seen in person, and I’ve seen some pretty neat ones at the annual gingerbread house contest at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville.

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As I looked at the extravagant gingerbread “castle”, I was reminded of John the Baptist’s life. Not because he lived in a castle, but because his life seemed to be just the opposite of someone who lived in a castle.

Luke tells us John lived a simple life.

“And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.” (Luke 1:80, ESV)

I’m not sure how much of his life was in the wilderness, but it stands to reason that he had grown accustomed to that kind of life by the time he began his ministry.

Isaiah predicted and Matthew confirmed John as…

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness.” (from Isaiah 40:3 and Matthew 3:3)

In addition, Matthew describes John’s lifestyle.

“Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.” (Matthew 3:4)

Not the clothes or the diet of someone living in a castle, that’s for sure.

So, you’ve been hand-picked by God, the creator of everything, the One who has existed in eternity past and will exist in eternity future, to bear witness to the coming of His only Son. What a privilege and responsibility! I can’t imagine what John must have felt like as he served the Lord in this most special way. Surely he deserved to live in the land’s largest castle.

But he didn’t do that, did he?

Not at all. You and I have a privilege and responsibility, too. We are called to share the name of Jesus here and abroad. We’ve been asked to be His ambassadors here on earth. We were made to bear His image.

But by John’s example, our reward is not riches, large homes, or physical comforts. Our reward, like John is having a close relationship with the Savior.

I’ll wrap up with these words that show a bit of the relationship John and Jesus had. May we be encouraged that by following the Lord’s leading, we will have Jesus speak of us this way.

“As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.” Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist.’” (Matthew 11:7-11)