John the baptizer is always presented as being a “prophetic figure.” He is more than a “seer.” He is a “spokesman” for God. …From God’s mouth to his ears…
That he is dressed like an “Elijah – type – figure” is no coincidence either. Apparently John likes the look…he likes the appeal and the connection. It suits him quite well.
He is a true ascetic…relying heavily on God and God alone. Many would say he appears to be a bit crazed…and that you would have to be “a little off” to love that kind of lifestyle.
That he ate a diet of “locusts and wild honey” means to imply that he received his daily sustenance directly from God – as of course – did the Hebrews when they wandered in the wilderness after the Exodus-event.
“GOD WILL PROVIDE” – it takes a whole lot of faith to believe “that” and to actually “walk that walk.”
John liked the journey. He appreciated the walk. He was more than comfortable with “where he was at!”
He liked the protection that the caves surrounding the Dead Sea afforded to him. And he loved the coolness and the purity of the river Jordan.
The wilderness had practically been the only home John had ever known. He was comfortable in it. He loved and appreciated its beauty. He was accustomed to its burning heat by day and its severe bone-chilling cold by night.
Far from being a place of torment and temptation, a habitat for wild-deadly and unsavory beasts…he called it “home.” He appreciated all of its nooks and crannies…
“What others saw as being a dangerous place – filled with bandits, wild animals and wild spirits – John simply saw as his natural surroundings.
Meanwhile everyone else saw it as being a place that respectable people avoided like the plague.
John saw it as a place of “spiritual cleansing and renewal.” It was here that he heard the voice of God…and more importantly – God speaking directly to him…
John loved the austerity of it all, he enjoyed abstaining from all the worldly comforts and pleasures.
Most people do not like prophets such as John. Many see them as being real big jerks. Although some of us, are intrigued by them.
They are truthful to a fault. They call a spade a spade…and they are horribly pessimistic. They also possess the remarkable ability to be simultaneously pompous and whiny, which is an ungodly level of annoying.
Prophets are usually “in your face” kind-of-people-who-seemingly-enjoy-it. Many times they are just plain – RUDE – and usually, very outspoken…
Prophets can also be extremely “showy” – if they want to be.
When someone claims for themselves that their way – is also God’s way – they have to “come off” as being a wee bit pompous.
And with most prophets – their personal hygiene usually enters into the picture at some point. (Their body odor, their breath, their spittle – so you want to make sure that you are never too close!)
So, John was out there – making his rounds “in his wilderness home” – giving the rather “typical prophetic speech” – about repentance and getting yourself on the right path with God…and that’s when – he would usually invite people to come on down and put their money where their mouth is – by getting dunked by him in the river Jordan.
It was a “cleansing thing.” Ritually, spiritually, externally and internally cleansing. It was a washing away of the dirt of the day and of the time.
It cleansed you for a nano-second of your sin. It was a holy moment. And by doing so, you were making a statement about yourself…and about the changes in your life that you wanted to make.
John was proud of his message and so he continued to bellow it out as long as he had life and breath.
The world was in need of repentance. The world needed to be brought down to its knees. The world needed to return back to God…and to living a godly life. If not, fire and brimstone was all that awaited the world.
And if, the Messiah were indeed coming as John believed – that he was…then people had better start getting right with the big man upstairs…because the time was getting shorter and shorter…
God was about to act…John could feel it in his bones…And for the most part, it consumed him day and night.
“Repent, NOW!” he proclaimed…until he could talk no more…