As we prepare to celebrate the birth of our savior, it is important to take time to remember the one who would prepare the way for Jesus. We already had our first encounter with John the Baptist yesterday when we read about his being filled with the Holy Spirit and leaping for joy in Elizabeth’s womb when he heard the voice of Mary! Many commentators feel this was the moment when John began his ministry of “preparing the way” for Jesus.
As children, when we are taught about John the Baptist, we are essentially told he is the crazy haired man who ate bugs and honey and wore animal skin in the wilderness. While that is all true, John the Baptist did so much more than the wild man in the wilderness when it came to fulfilling prophecy and given hope to the Jews of what was to come!
John the Baptist was born around 6 B.C. to devout parents who were both of the priestly line and well advanced in age. John played an important historical role in linking the prophesied salvation in the OT and the saving activity in the person and work of Jesus.
Zechariah’s Prophecy
67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people
69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71 that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us;
72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:67-79
The Jews had been waiting around 400 years to hear from God. They knew the old testament had prophesied about a coming Messiah and believed that “Elijah” would come back and “prepare the way” for the Messiah.
In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him—Matthew 3:1-3
When one reads the old testament, it is awe-inspiring to see the similarities between John the Baptist and Elijah. Down to the littlest of details from what the two men wore and ate during their time to where they ministered in the wilderness, how they died to what they did while on earth.
Jesus described John as:
11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.
Just as he did in the womb, John spent his days joyfully being the messenger for Jesus and preparing the way. He offered hope for the promised Messiah and made sure he pointed others to the Christ.
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.
Family Activities
Compare and contrast Elijah and John. suggested readings: 1 Kings 18:21, Matthew 3:1-2; 2 Kings 1:7-8, Matthew 3:4; 1 KIngs 17:2-3, Matthew 3:46; 1 Kings 18:18, Matthew 14:34; i Kings 19:2, Matthew 14:8,11; Malachi 4:4-6, Luke 1:16,17; I Kings 17:3, Matthew 3:1, Luke 1:80; and 2 Kings 1:8, Matthew 3:4, Mark 1:6
Have the kids draw a picture of what John would look like. Talk about if they would ever eat a bug. Let them taste some honey.
