John 1:23

The year is almost half-spent, the Florida days are long and murky, and the nights are hot and languid. It is from a similar kind of arid background of scorched earth, red hot soil and drought-besieged lakes and riverways that John the Baptist blazes into view with white-hot intensity.

John was a special kind of prophet. His voice has long been recognized by the church as the herald of salvation. The scriptures seem to favor stories of children born late after all hope is gone and childbearing years have passed. Old Elizabeth gives birth to a child who is be called John, which means “God is good.” In the scriptures, naming is vital. It carries meaning and tradition and mission. John’s name carries a mission, and it was not found anywhere on the family tree. John was the last of the old testament prophets, and he was the first of the Hebrew prophets to recognize the Messiah in the person of Jesus.

Today we can cheer for John the Baptist; for his God-sent beginning, for his fidelity to his mission, and for the marvelous accomplishment of it. John’s joy overflowed when he was to turn his disciples over to his Messiah who moved along Jordan’s banks. This was the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and John knew it. John was ready to make way for Christ, the only-begotten Son of God who came among us “so that we might not perish but have eternal life”. (John 17)

John the Baptist was known and chosen by God from the very beginning. Few persons in all of scripture, save Jesus Himself, have had their birth announced so gloriously. John became a piercing light to the people of his day. He spoke plainly and bluntly. He was a humble man who gave his life in service of the truth and stepped aside so that people could follow Jesus. He was able to step aside and point to the one greater than himself-the Messiah whose salvation reaches to the ends, right down to us today.

No man born of woman, Jesus said, was greater than John the Baptist (Matthew 11:11). Yet, the least, true follower of Christ is greater than John the Baptist. (Matthew 11:11). It is to John the Baptist ‘s lasting glory that he humbly recognized his limitations and prepared the way for Christ.

Fr. Hugh Duffy