All of my life, with the exception of a brief time in college when I was a member of East Side Baptist Church in Evansville, I have belonged to a Baptist Church that has been labeled as "First." This term can create a lot of misunderstanding among people. I've even heard people think that "First Baptist Churches" are their own denomination differing from other Baptist denominations when the truth is the "First" title is more of a landmark and or historical title to denote the first established church in a given community. As you may know, churches using the name "First Baptist" represent several different Baptist Denominations and Sects across our land, from American to Southern Baptist even some which are independent of any denomination.
But when we talk about "Firsts" in regards to Baptists we need to point to John who so promoted this spiritual cleansing ritual that "Baptist" became part of his moniker. He, in my mind at least, is truly the "First Baptist." This is not to say that Baptists link their heritage to him as John Smyth was the reformer who is credited for beginning the Baptist movement in 17th century Europe and then Roger Williams brought the Baptist movement to America, more specifically Rhode Island. We will talk more about John and Baptizing in a moment but first let's look at the remarkable story of his birth.
John's Parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth, came from the line of Aaron. Thus, Zechariah was a priest. Now there were so many priests at that time that they had to cast lots to determine who would serve the priestly duties. Casting lots was a lottery of sorts, but instead of using ping pong balls they used lots which was more like flipping a coin or rolling dice. Well, Zechariah had won the priestly lottery and was chosen to burn incense at the local temple. This was a big deal to him and his family and was considered a great honor. He and Elizabeth, according to Luke were obeyers of the law, a holy couple, but had likely been troubled and perplexed all their married lives because they remained barren. For the Jewish family, they would have been viewed as cursed and likely questions would have been raised of them as to what sin was standing in the way of them being blessed with a child and more specifically a son. So through no fault of their own, they likely carried this heavy burden with them, but had remained faithful in spite of it. They had reached the point of being "well along in years" as the NIV states in Luke 1:7.
This is the context under which God reveals himself to Zechariah in the temple. As Zechariah is about the business of burning the incense, likely a high point of his life, the Angel Gabriel appears and speaks to him. He tells him that his wife would at last, give him a son, but not just any son. Gabriel gave Zechariah the specific name of his son. He was to be called John. He would be full of the Holy Spirit from birth and would be given a spirit and power like that of Elijah. Not only this, but he would be given the specific purpose of preparing the people for the long awaited Messiah.
Could you imagine Zechariah in that moment? All of your life you were told, your a priest but their was no guarantee you would ever get the honor of administering the rituals of the temple. You've been waiting your entire married life to be blessed with a son and had probably given up on the hope it would ever happen, yet you did your best to be faithful. Then in one day, all that you had waited and hoped for comes to being. Here you are, bestowed the honor of administering your priestly duty, when news of a son comes to you through an angel. I can relate to Zechariah having questions and doubts, can't you? If I was bestowed two of my greatest hopes and dreams in one day, I'd Know I'd be more than a little shell shocked. Nevertheless, Gabriel silenced his doubts by silencing him as a sign that the Angel's message was real. Nine months later John arrives and a discussion about his name is brought up at the boy's circumcision ceremony and when Zechariah confirms Elizabeth's wishes to call him John amidst questions from those present, Zechariah's voice is restored.
One of the amazing things about John the Baptist is that he began fulfilling his purpose of preparing the way for Jesus before he was born. As we see in the story of Mary visiting Elizabeth in Luke 1, the knowledge of Elizabeth carrying John in her womb, was of great encouragement and comfort to Mary. Knowing that God was working through her cousin as well as her would' ve surely prepared Mary and later Joseph for what they would undergo and experience as they brought Jesus into the world and began to raise him.
Just as John preceeded Jesus at birth, he precedes him in ministry as well. If the Gospel is like a concert, John is a great opening act for Jesus. His unique and authentic lifestyle coupled with his deep passion clearly got the spiritual juices of Israel going.
John comes into his ministry when Israel was in bad shape. Luke's introduction to the account of John the Baptist in chapter 3 is more than just a list of leaders and rulers intended to give an awareness of when his ministry began historically. It's a list of tyrants and oppressors of the Jewish people. Tiberius, Pontius Pilate, Herod (Antipas), Phillip, Annas, and Caiaphas all had their reputations and a person reading Luke's account would know this. It would likely have caused a knowledgable Jew to cringe as each name was read, one corrupter of power after another.
The Jewish people had been without a prophet for 400 years and they were longing for a word from God. John brought it to them. A prevailing attitude was that the Jewish people were the chosen people, descendants of Abraham, the people of Moses and King David. Didn't they deserve deliverance from this tyranny? But John makes it clear that God doesn't have grandchildren, only children. No one has an automatic birthright to the kingdom of God. John makes this clear in the satement "out of these stones, God can raise up children for Abraham" in Luke 3:8. Thus John's call to repentance and baptism. It's important to note here that Baptism was required of those outside of the Jewish community to become a part of it. So in his call to Jews to repent and be Baptized, John was emphasizing the need for all Jews to view this time as a new beginning, a new day, spiritually speaking. It would not be their heritage that would deliver them but their trust in God.
So much of what we see here in John's early ministry is a microcosm of Jesus' ministry. John gets to people's hearts through his passionate words while at the same time pointing out to his followers that a heart change is tested by the actions we take. Have we really repented if our heart change fails to bear fruit? John begins the tree and fruit analogy which Jesus would further expand on later. The crowd, the tax collectors, the soldiers all asked him what they should do now that thy have repented and been Baptized? John's answer was simple, live justly, don't cheat your fellow man. Does this not sound familiar to Jesus' teachings such as treat others in a manner you would want to be treated and love your neighbor as yourself?
One of my favorite scriptures comes from Micah 6:8. It's one of those scriptures that puts living the Christian life in big picture terms. "He showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To ast justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." John and Jesus' message were no different. God calls us to be just, to be fair with others in our actions. Notice this is not a demand for justice but a call to live justly and we are to balance this with loving mercy, not seeking vengeance. John is telling the people "to repent. The direction you've been taking is wrong." John knows their plight. He knows the Romans are mistreating them and Herod is a corrupt and evil ruler. He knows the Pharisees and the like have taken the law to far and are using their piety for self benefit. But he makes it clear to the people not to do the same. Change the world from the bottom up is the call of John and Jesus. Don't expect others to model fairness and justice to you if you don't model it to them.
Two applications come to mind as we look at the life of John as he prepares the way for Jesus. Do we model just living for our children in the midst of a world full of injustices? Knowing the families of our church, I would say we do a pretty good job of that, but it is always good to check our motives and our justifications for our actions. Do we point out injustices happening to others and defend those who can't defend themselves. Just this morning I heard on the news about one boy beating on another mercilessly. This incident took place right here in Columbus while a handful of others just watched it happen and one even recorded it. No one tried to stop it. Is this a model of acting justly, loving mercy, even seeking mercy? I want to teach my kids to defend the defenseless, even if it means it will cost them.
The other question I want to pose is how do we prepare the way for Jesus' arrival for our children at this time of year? We can all do a little John the Baptist work in the way we approach Christmas. What priorities do we set at Christmas time? Do our activities and traditions point to Christ coming into the world? Do our attitudes reflect an anticipation of celebrating Christ's birth or do we get stressed and aggrevated at the worldly pressure of the holiday season?
In recent years, no song has spoken to me more about Christmas than Where's the Line to See Jesus? We stand in line for so many things this time of year, but would we stand in line to see Jesus if there was a long line to see him at the mall? I challenge us all to be like John the Baptist this year and prepare the way for our families and our friends to see Jesus this year. Let's take time to ponder the amazing event of his birth and those details surrounding it. Will you be willing for the sake of the ones you love to make every path straight, fill every valley and make the mountains and hills low so that all can see God's salvation?
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