John the Baptist

The other night I was reading John 1 and was struck by John the Baptist's testimony of Jesus. John was a young man who lived in the wilderness, eating wild honey and locusts. He was a wild man. I'm pretty sure the hell-fire-and-brimstone preachers of the 18th century had nothing on John the Baptist!

He had a strong sense of his calling to 'prepare the way for the Lord'. Although he had recognized the Jesus as the Lamb of God while still in the womb, in John 1:31 he says, "I myself did not know him," This gives me a picture of John and Jesus as cousins. They probably spent some family time together - just conjecture on my part but his mom was the one Mary told when she knew she was pregnant with the Messiah. Even though he knew Jesus, until God told him (verse 33) that the one whom the Holy Spirit descended upon was the Messiah, he apparently didn't know that about Jesus. But then, in verse 34, John the Baptist says, "I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God." Can you imagine what a huge revelation that must have been?! 'Hey cuz! Woah!!!'

But then we find John the Baptist in Luke 7. He is in prison when he sends two of his disciples to ask Jesus, his cousin, "Are you the one or should we look to another?" Jesus answers by performing many miracles and says, "Go and tell John what you have seen and also tell him blessed is the one who is not offended by me."  This spoke to me so deeply. I feel such sadness for John in that moment! He knew Jesus was the answer to his life's purpose before he was born and then the Holy Spirit revealed Jesus to him by descending on him as a dove, after the Holy Spirit had told John to expect that as a sign to him. Yet in his darkest hour, from the dungeon in which he would soon be beheaded, John asks again and Jesus says, "blessed is he who is not offended by me."

This is so encouraging to me and also convicting. Even John the Baptist questioned things God had directly revealed to him. Jesus settles John's longing heart by doing great miracles that confirmed what he had heard and also calls him out on being offended at God's ways. Then he honors John to those listening by saying, "among those born to women, none is greater than John the Baptist."

Do I get offended at the way God fulfills his promises and his call on my life? My offense doesn't offend him. As a matter of fact, if I will ask him about it, he will beautifully confirm truth to my heart. And then he will correct me on the offense and remind me to be 'blessed' or 'happy' at the truth he is showing me.