The life of John the Baptist is a peculiar one. Obedience to God cost John his life, however, he remained faithful, performing the will of the Father-heart of God before masses of his kinsmen. Here is what we know about him:
1. John and Jesus were cousins (Lk. 1:36)
2. John was sent from God as a witness (Jn. 1:7)
3. John’s witness pointed to the coming Messiah (Jn. 1:7-8)
4. John came baptizing, calling for repentance unto forgiveness of sin (Mk. 1:4)
5. All of Judea and Jerusalem went out to the Jordan River to be baptized by him (Mk. 1:5)
6. He dressed lowly and ate simply (Mk. 1:6)
7. He baptized Jesus (Mk. 1:9-11)
8. John was imprisoned and beheaded (Matt. 14:1-12)
While it is necessary to investigate beneficial points within John’s testimony, I intend to show forth John’s faithfulness unto death. The goodness of God is not limited by earthly trial and tribulation; the perfect will of the Father’s heart knows infinitely how exceedingly better it will be for His children after death, with Him. Death to self and physical martyrdom are momentary, the eternal presence of God is everlasting. To understand John’s peculiarity, let us look at his faithful witness to personal holiness, his faithfulness to not waiver in the public eye, and his faithfulness unto death.
UNRELENTING FAITHFULNESS TO PERSONAL HOLINESS
John the Baptist, weird clothes and weird diet. This is the usual jargon we get stuck on. But it is much more than weird clothes and weird food. John, “in calling Jews to accept a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, John was telling them that they cannot rely on their Jewishness for salvation; they have to be changed in their heart toward God” (Piper. Web). To do such a thing meant hidden behind the weird clothes and weird diet, John was calling himself to repentance, first. I believe the issue for the Church in calling sinners to repentance is not language, but spiritual authority. And, the issue of spiritual authority is not perfection, but affection. John could not call his people to a baptism of repentance without first cultivating a heart of repentance; and, John could not cultivate a heart of repentance without cultivating a heart of affection towards merciful God. Child of God, do not be mistaken, personal repentance and holiness are very near to the Father-Heart. If “God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance” (Rom. 2:4), one can assume if personal repentance and holiness is built upon the kindness of God, John’s obedience to God was the kindest gift he could give to his generation. Repentance should produce happy hearts before God. Though humility often accompanies, repentance is compelled by God’s mercy and God’s beauty as continuance unto communion. John the Baptist’ unrelenting faithfulness to personal holiness was founded upon satisfaction in God; in other words, John desired holiness because it freed his heart to love and serve God.
UNRELENTING FAITHFULNESS TO GOD AMIDST PUBLIC EYES
John did not waiver in the public eye. Like Simeon and Anna, John did not randomly have an idea and run with it. John spent his life in the desert preparing to prepare the way: “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, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.’” (Lk. 1:13-17). John’s steadfastness to God before the public eye was undergirded by a life set aside in preparation for his role. The issue is not how much one knows about God, rather, has what they know about God transformed them in such a way which leads to a life set apart to God. John the Baptist emerging out of the wilderness with the power of the Holy Spirit was not a random fluke or good fortune, John was prepped his whole life for that moment (Lk. 1:80). It is in the preparation one is formed for faithful service. Preparation is why John’s public role was true and steadfast unto death. Furthermore, let it be stated, John did not aim to have a public ministry, the Word of the Lord came upon Him (Lk. 3:2). This generation has fascination with public ministry, rather than, obedient devotion to God. John’s unrelenting faithfulness to God while serving publically testifies to his life’s faithfulness prior to public witness. Likewise, let us remain faithful to God in the secret places, lest we fall like a mighty star before public audience.
UNRELENTING FAITHFULNESS UNTO DEATH
John prepared for martyrdom with gladness his whole life. He was no idiot to the social/political pressures and hazards his message would bring. “Death is a means. Christ is the end. Joy is the motive. And glorious is the journey.”(Thomas. 16). I think we often see a man like John the Baptist, view his intensity, and think of him as serious and melancholy. I do not think of this man that way. The scripture says John was filled with the Holy Spirit (Lk. 1:15), and the Holy Spirit possess true joy. John may have been an intense man with an intensely devoted lifestyle, but I believe emphatically, John the Baptist knew the joy of the Lord. To die for his Lord was a crown of joy upon his head. Did John experience suffering? Yes. Was it easy? No. What remains is his faithful witness, and John knew that death was gain. Unrelenting faithful obedience to His Lord was all that mattered, his life already poured forth as an offering, death was only flesh.
CONCLUSION
The Romans chapter eight “revealing of the sons of God” (Rom. 8:19), is revelation of faithful obedience; love-sick obedience unto death. “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John” (Jn. 1:6). John was sent as a revelatory wonder, to proclaim the goodness of the Lord, and preach righteousness to the sons of men, by his example and voice. “Until we consider death to be gain, we will be living beneath the intensions of God” (Thomas. 29). The joy set before John produced in this child of God the perseverance to withstand suffering unto death. A worship-based obedience grows the seed of faithfulness unto death. In the life of John the Baptist, the Father-heart of God is revealed to His children in that God uses faithful people as instruments of mercy. Hardship and suffering are not fun, however, suffering for the sake of the gospel plants seeds of God’s worthiness in the hearts of those without him. John’s summary of obedience to God is summed up in this, “He [Jesus] must increase, but I must decrease” (Jn. 3:30). While John certainly suffered as his ministry faded, sitting alone in prison, awaiting the day his head would be served as show and tale on a plate. However, John understood his decreasing, or death to self, and his martyrdom, or faithfulness unto death, centrally as his glorious decreasing unto Christ’ glorious increase. And what an increase it is when a life is laid down for the glory of Christ above self. John traded his temporal life for the crown of life given to those who are faithful unto death; those who love the increase of Christ more than the increase of self.
Works Cited
ESV Bible. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway, 2001. Print.
Piper, John. John the Baptist and the Brood of Vipers.” Desiringgod.org.
Desiring God, 9 February 1981. Web. 7 January, 2017.
http://www.desiringgod.org/messages/john-the-baptist-and-the-brood-of-vipers
Thomas, Dalton. Unto Death: Martyrdom, Missions, and the Maturity of the Church.
Tauranga: Maskilim, 2012. Print.