“John wore a garment made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, ‘One more powerful than I am is coming after me; I am not worthy to bend down and untie the strap of his sandals. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’” —Mark 1:6–8
It would be an understatement to say that John the Baptist didn’t blend in with the world. The way he dressed and what he ate surely drew attention—not to mention his message! Interestingly, the prophet Elijah—one of John’s forerunners—appeared in Scripture dressed in the same way. When one wants to follow in the footsteps of another, they imitate as many behaviors as possible. John the Baptist imitated the lifestyle of Elijah—and he walked in the same spirit and power:
Sometimes, as with diamonds, things come wrapped up in rough packages, their value not readily exposed. There was not a glimmer in John’s outward appearance that would have given a hint to the precious Holy Spirit he contained. He carried around treasure in his jar of clay, a very precious message:
“But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son; you will name him John. Joy and gladness will come to you, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go as forerunner before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.’” —Luke 1:13–17
John came into the world for a special purpose and he was focused throughout his life on that purpose. John arrived on the scene living out the gospel. Many of us follow after the world and its futile pursuit of happiness simply because it’s the easier path and we want to blend in. Unfortunately, as the Bible points out over and over, we are like sheep and we tend to go astray. However, the more we choose to live above the world, the better prepared we are for the Lord Jesus. When someone lives a life that is truly for Christ—particularly when it is not glamorous, or easy, or widely acclaimed or accepted by the world, they stand out—just like John did.
In The Message version of the Bible, Romans 12:2 challenges us with these words:
“Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God—what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.”
John the Baptist demonstrated perfect humility in his relationship to the Lord Jesus. Even a slave was not required to do the menial task of stooping down and untying the sandal of his master, yet John in our verses for today that he is not even worthy to accomplish this work for Jesus.
Throughout the Bible we see that humility always precedes exaltation:
Become More
Jesus commends John with His words, making the criticism that was poured on John throughout his life pale in comparison to the delight of the Lord’s approval. John may have been a nonconformist, but he accomplished God’s work for him to perfection.
“And God will exalt you in due time, if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand.” —1 Peter 5:6
Further Reflection
“I tell you the truth, among those
born of women, no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who
is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is!” —Matthew 11:11