JOHN the Baptist has been called the forerunner of Jesus, in allusion, no doubt, to an ancient custom of kings having heralds go before them to prepare their way.
John’s birth, as well as that of Jesus, was announced beforehand by the angel Gabriel. And John was to hold a position of greatness not surpassed by any who had gone before him. Gabriel told John’s father, that he should be great, and should drink neither wine nor strong drink, and should be filled with the Holy Ghost from his birth, and should turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord, and go before Him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. (Luke 1:15-1715For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. 16And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. (Luke 1:15‑17).)
John was the son of a priest, named Zacharias, and his remarkable birth as foretold by Gabriel was well known. But he was not brought up in wealth and luxury, and his greatness was not derived from association with great men of the world. He was brought up in the wilderness, or deserts, in a wild and thinly settled country, where the people were poor. He wore the rough garment of the prophet, made of camel’s hair, and this was fastened around him by a girdle of leather. His food was such as that poor, barren country could produce —locusts and wild honey.
This strangely dressed man came into “the wilderness of Judea,” and “all the country about Jordan,” preaching, and saying, “Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” He was full of the Spirit, and spoke with great power, and great multitudes from all the country around came to hear him. A great King had been born in Judea, and was about to be presented to Israel, and John was preparing a people to receive Him. He called on these people to repent of their sins, and they were baptized in Jordan, confessing their sins. The nation had long been full of wickedness, and the people were not fit to receive the King God was sending them, unless they repented. The King was there, and was ready to establish His kingdom in Israel, if they would receive Him, but He wanted a righteous people, and John was sent beforehand to prepare them by preaching repentance, so that they might receive forgiveness of sins.
But there were many wicked men in Jerusalem among the Pharisees and Saducees, and among the rulers, who had no heart to receive the King about whom John was preaching, and John called these a race of vipers, and warned them that the new King would execute judgment against those whose repentance was not real. The trees that did not bring forth good fruit were to be hewn down and cast into the fire. The barn floor was to be cleansed, and the chaff burnt up with unquenchable fire. So would it be for all those who did not truly repent. John spoke very plainly and faithfully in warning sinners of coming judgment, and he afterwards lost his life because he dared to reprove Herod, the wicked king who was then reigning in the land. But John was faithful unto death, and will have a martyr’s crown, while the wicked king who caused his death, if he died in his sins, will have his portion in the unquenchable fire.
Dear young reader, have you heeded the call to repentance? Have you turned to God, confessing your sins? Remember you cannot have a place in God’s kingdom above, unless you confess and forsake your sins. But if you turn to God with repentance, and believe in Jesus, the Saviour, and own Him as your Lord, you will be forgiven and saved, and will have a place with Christ in His kingdom, when He reigns.
A.H.R.
ML 08/05/1900