“So, the child grew and became strong in spirit and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.” Luke 1:80
John the Baptist was God’s original for several reasons. The first is that prophecies concerning John reached back to the writing of the book of Isaiah during the 8th century B.C., and continuing on through the book of Malachi, written approximately during the 5 century B.C. Approximately seven hundred years would pass after the mentioning of John’s appearance and coming in the Scriptures. Why did God declare his coming and ministry so long before he came, and why did he come in a most original manner, to be God’s original messenger with the announcement that would change the world?
When, in God’s economy, He chose to send His angel Gabriel to Jerusalem to speak to Zacharias, the soon-to-be father of John, it was a very unusual, individual encounter. Zacharias’ perception of the angel, while he was in the temple, was overwhelmingly solemn, and very fearful to him. It was only as the angel made clear to him the reason for his coming, that Zacharias began to feel somewhat at ease. In that salutation the angel told Zacharias that his prayer had been heard, and that he would have a son born by Elizabeth his wife, even though she was beyond the years of childbearing. This too was unusual, and unique, with the very proof of God’s intervention upon it. The angel would then declare that John would not drink wine or strong drink, and that his name would not be one derived from his family, but a name given to him by God. This baby boy would be very unique, not only in that he would not be worldly, as the wine and strong drink issue would point to that, but also, he would be detached from his family line, being one truly set apart to God by God. That which would characterize John perhaps in the most significant manner was with regard to the Spirit of God. Though he would be seen later as a young man clothed with a garment of camel’s hair, living in the wilderness, feeding on honey and locusts, he would be filled with the Spirit of God from his mother’s womb. Though a sinner like every man, John was uniquely set apart for a role, a purpose of monumental, prophetical, and practical eternal significance. He would be, as his father declared: “…called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people.” (Luke 1:76,77) John was unique in birth, in his separation to God from the world, in his ministry or purpose, and in the means of the realization of that purpose, all by the Spirit of God. He, like the Lord Jesus, who would follow him, would come in great humility and simplicity. Very few would take notice of him until the “…word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.” (Lk. 3:2) From that day, John the Baptist, in the uniqueness of calling, his preaching, his baptizing, and his clearly defined mission, would go forth to prepare the way for the appearance, presentation, and affirmation of Christ as the Messiah, the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world.
Why is it important to study God’s work in calling John to be the messenger of God to announce the coming, and arrival of Christ as the Messiah? God uses the testimony of those who have gone before us, in their uniqueness, to reveal to mankind that He will not be limited by the smallness of men’s thinking. He always steps outside of the bounds of men’s ideas, imaginations, and limited concepts, to do things in a manner that has His sovereign mark upon it. Every believer in the body of Christ is unique, with a calling that is his alone, equipped by God, to accomplish that mission. The great essential is the fulness of the Spirit of God.
Dear Father, Fill us with Yourself. In Jesus’ name, Amen.