Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Gospel lesson just read, from Mark 1. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- We are for the most part familiar with John the Baptist. It is true that there is relatively little written about him. His ministry was short, but extremely important. He was the forerunner of Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of the world.
- His life and his ministry were fairly short. He began baptizing shortly before Jesus was baptized, and he died – executed by wicked king Herod – before Jesus’ own suffering and death.
- We have become accustomed to the personal characteristics of John, so we don’t really think all that much about the oddities of his personality. We’ll talk about this a bit later in this sermon. I suspect if we had met him personally, face to face, we’d have a hard time knowing just what to make of him!
- But it is clear from our text and the other accounts of his brief ministry that:
I. The Ministry Of John Was Part Of The Ministry Of Jesus
A. He Was Preaching A Baptism Of Repentance For The Forgiveness Of Sins
Text: “John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”
B. He Was Faithful In Bearing Witness To The Great One, To Jesus, The Son Of God
Text: “He preached, saying, ‘After me comes He Who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’”
John 1:29-34 “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks before me, because He was before me.” I myself did not know Him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that He might be revealed to Israel.’ And John bore witness: ‘I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on Him. I myself did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is He Who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.’”
C. And He Baptized Jesus For Our Great Blessedness
Epistle Lesson: “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”
Statement: Only Mark specifically mentions that John’s baptism was a means of grace, sacramental in nature. It was a baptism of repentance that brought about faith, and the forgiveness of sins. In distinguishing his baptism from what Jesus does, John was not denying the nature and power of his own baptism – just that he was the means; Jesus was the real source of this great blessing. A Christian pastor today might say the very same thing: “I am baptizing you with water, but in this Sacrament Jesus is baptizing you with the Holy Spirit.”
Application: It is obvious that John understood the nature of his ministry – to bear witness to Jesus, the Greater, the Eternal Son of God, the Savior of the world! So as he described himself, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said,” this is what John did – he prepared the way for Jesus! We do well then to heed John’s witness – and to put our faith and trust in Jesus, our dear Savior, Who has taken away our sins as well! We too should rejoice that because of Jesus’ baptism, the waters of Holy Baptism have incredible power and significance. When we are “baptized in Christ Jesus” we are joined to Him, to His suffering, death, and burial, and also to His resurrection. We now have eternal life, and shall be raised as well on the Last Day “by the glory of the Father.”
Transition: What thanks and praise we owe to God for sending John to do this work. We are richly blessed through the ministry of John the Baptist, which is part of the ministry of Jesus Himself. And our text makes clear that:
II. All Of These Blessings Have Come To Us Through John, The Eccentric Prophet
A. Consider The Locale Of His Ministry
Text: “John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness.”
B. Consider His Wardrobe
Text: “John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around His waist.”
C. Consider His Diet
Text: “He ate locusts and wild honey.”
D. Consider Also His Great Humility
Text: “After me comes He Who is mightier than I, the strap of Whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.”
Statement: Obviously, these things are important for us to consider. Otherwise, the Holy Spirit would not have included them. So, for what purpose were they included? To make us think, to make us understand, that God does not have to utilize the usual, the common, the acceptable, to accomplish His purposes and His ministry of salvation to us. In fact, most of His servants are odd! Paul describes himself and other servants of God in this way: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.”
Application: If John the Baptist showed up on your “call list” to be your pastor, would you give him any consideration? Or would his unusual lifestyle, his diet, his choice of attire, completely turn you off? Would knowing that his life would be cut off shortly by a wicked king eliminate him from consideration?
It is not that servants of God’s Word try to be odd and different – they just often are. Still, the ministry of Jesus was greatly served by John’s ministry, and we ourselves are blessed by John’s ministry – His testimony in regard to Jesus, and His baptism of Jesus! This is important for us to take to heart!
Conclusion: I am thankful that John’s lifestyle is not prerequisite for serving in the ministry! At the same time, I am thankful that John’s inclusion in the ministry demonstrates that there is no “criteria of normalcy” that God’s servants have to meet.
What we should all be thankful for are the incredible blessings that God has provided to us through John, and especially through His Son, our dear Savior Jesus Christ! Yes, and many think it strange that God should provide such great blessings to us to this very day in such strange things: His preached Word, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. But, it is His beloved will to bless us in these ways!
So let us give thanks and praise to God for His love, His salvation! And let us also give Him thanks and praise for the ways in which He conveys this love and salvation to us. Amen.
Votum: The peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.