There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. v6

I love the way God has always reached out to us. He sent a man, this time John. From the time He made the world He had been sending men to speak to other men on His behalf (Hebrews 1). This is not the behavior of an aloof and unconcerned God.

He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. v7

John, not to be confused with John the apostle, the writer of this book, but John the son of Zacharias, a priest, and Elizabeth, a relative of Mary of Nazareth (Luke 1). John, who became known as the Baptizer, knew he had a mission to accomplish. And he set about to accomplish it.

He (John) was not that Light but came to testify about the Light….John testified about Him, and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’” vv 8, 15

John pulled no punches. I think he was a “what you see is what you get” kind of guy. And he was a sight to see. He was not your conventional next door neighbor type. He may have been a little scary (Matthew 3: 4). But what he had to say was riveting. He called people to repent--oh that nastiest of words! “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2).

But people by the score came to him, scary or strange or not, repenting of their sins and as a sign of their repentance, were being baptized by John. But what was it all about? The kingdom of heaven is near. So what? Does that mean anything to us? The promised Deliverer, the Christ, was about to appear, that’s all! Get ready! They couldn’t receive the Christ, the King, in their “dirty clothes” of life. They had to change, wash up in baptism.

Does sin matter to us? I read these verses and go “yea!” for the ones who came repenting, seeking to make their hearts and lives ready for their King who would rule the coming Kingdom. They knew they were sinners and needed to change the way they lived.

Of course, there were also those who came skeptically and even scornfully, acting a part but with no intention of changing their lives. John had some choice words for them, let me tell you. No, he wasn’t a guy who pulled punches or suffered hypocrites well (Matthew 3:5-12). And if they couldn’t fool John, how in the world did they think they could fool the coming King of the coming kingdom?

So when these same men questioned John about who he thought he was to be doing all this preaching and baptizing--was he the coming king, or a prophet? John was clear, he was not the king to come, the Christ; he was a ‘voice’ announcing Him, getting the roadway prepared for His appearance.

This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ”….”I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” vv. 19, 20, 23

John knew his calling, his mission. He pointed to the coming Christ, the King of the kingdom coming upon them. He, the Christ, was greater than John and John acknowledged it.

John answered them saying, “I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know. It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie….I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifest to Israel, I came baptizing in water.” vv26, 27, 31

So who was this Christ, this King, the One no one recognized?

(All scriptures NASB)