A WORD FOR TODAY, June 24, 2025
Peggy Hoppes
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Blessings. Peg
A WORD FOR TODAY, June 24, 2025
“His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, ‘Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people; and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old), salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show mercy toward our fathers, to remember his holy covenant, the oath which he swore to Abraham our father, to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life. And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the dawn from on high will visit us, to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace.’” Luke 1:67-79, WEB
June 24th is the Nativity of John the Baptist. We celebrate on this day because the scriptures tell us that John was born six months before Jesus. Therefore, we are six months from Christmas. Are you already shopping for those Christmas gifts? All kidding aside, it is good to stop for a moment in the middle of the church year to look at the life of John the Baptist. He was the voice calling from the wilderness to prepare the way of the Lord. He cried out for repentance, so that the people would be prepared for that day when Christ did come, so that they would be ready to receive Him. We think about repentance in Lent, and perhaps in Advent, but do we hear that voice as we enter into the fun a free days of summer vacation?
Who was John the Baptist? He was Jesus’ cousin, the firstborn of Elizabeth and Zechariah who were an elderly couple well beyond childbearing years. Zechariah was a priest that ministered in the temple and Elizabeth was barren, but God spoke to Zechariah and promised him a son. When Zechariah questioned the angel that gave him the good news, he was struck dumb, unable to speak.When the child was born, everyone thought he would be named after his father, but Elizabeth said he would be called John. They asked Zechariah, since it was not a family name. He wrote “His name is John.” At that moment, Zechariah could speak again, and he praised God for the blessing of this son. John grew in spirit and lived a most unusual life.
John was a herald. A herald is an announcer, someone who proclaims some important bit of information or news. In Medieval times, most of the news was delivered by traveling heralds who spoke to the people in the marketplace. Today’s anchormen are like those ancient messengers, only their platform is much different. A herald might also have been an official representative for the leaders of an army, something like an ambassador who helps the negotiations during war. Other heralds announced the participants at a tournament. In modern terms, the announcer at a wrestling match has the same purpose, to warm up the crowd and make them excited about the battle ahead. Finally, heralds announced the coming of a king. Though the herald himself was of little importance, he had a very important task. If the herald did not get the attention of the people, or if he put them to sleep with a boring speech, then the message he proclaimed was not heard and the announcement was missed.
John went around the country preaching repentance. He baptized the people with a baptism of repentance and preached the coming kingdom of God. He said, “I indeed baptize you with water, but he comes who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Luke 3:16)
John the Baptist heralded the coming of the Christ, proclaiming the kingdom of God and calling for the repentance of the people. He was sent first to warn the Jews that they must turn back to God, or they would miss the Messiah for whom they were waiting. The Jews were longing for deliverance; they wanted to be freed from the Romans that bound and oppressed them in that age. Yet, they did not realize they were bound by an even harsher master: sin and death. It was not an earthly kingdom that was coming, but God’s kingdom and the salvation that was to be offered was not for the flesh. Jesus Christ brought eternal life to those who believe, and John the Baptist prepared the way.
John knew, even in Elizabeth’s womb, that Jesus was the One for whom they were waiting. When Mary visited Elizabeth after the angel revealed the blessing that she would bear the Savior, John leapt for joy and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy! Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!” (Luke 1:42-45)
Thirty years later, as John was baptizing in the Jordan, Jesus went to John to be baptized. John tried to refuse but Jesus said it was necessary to fulfill all righteousness. When John saw Jesus, he exclaimed, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) John knew that he came to witness to the coming of the Christ, the Savior of Israel.
Despite knowing Jesus from before he was born, John wondered about Jesus. He sent his disciples to ask Jesus if He was the one for whom they waited, and Jesus told them to see the signs. Jesus was already fulfilling the prophecies that pointed to His life and ministry in the world. Some of John’s disciples, however, were upset that Jesus was taking his followers. John answered that he was not the bridegroom, but only the friend who stands with him. “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30)
John was a radical and preached against the leaders of the day, including Herod. Herod was filled with pride and human foolishness; he considered himself much greater than he was. Herod listened to John, and liked him, but John was truthful about Herod’s sinful marriage to his brother’s wife Herodias. She used the opportunity of Herod’s arrogance when he offered up to half his kingdom to Herodias’ daughter who danced for him. I say “kingdom” but Herod was only a puppet king, controlled by Rome and his own flesh. He feared killing John because of the people, but he feared for his reputation even more. When he pridefully offered the young girl anything she desired in front of a room full of important men of the kingdom at a birthday party, he could not renege on the promise. She made him feel good, and so when she obeyed her mother and asked for John’s head on a platter, Herod killed John and gave it to her. (Matthew 14:1-12)
Today is the day we remember John the Baptist, his life and ministry. If there is one thing to remember about John, it is that he knew his place in God’s kingdom. He came to point the way to the Lord Jesus, and he accomplished that mission. He was not jealous that Jesus was the focus. He lived, and died, in the joy of knowing that the Messiah had finally come to save His people. John was just the herald, the one who came before to proclaim the coming of the King. He knew that he was unimportant, and once Jesus arrived on the scene, he willingly stepped aside so that Jesus would have center stage. John is an example to us today. We are also called to be heralds, witnesses to the coming of Christ. We become less and less as we grow in faith and knowledge of God’s grace until one day all God will see in our faces because we have been transformed into His image.
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