Fit For Service (Part 10 – John the Baptist)

This is the sixteenth and last week of our study: Fit for Service.  Today we will be looking at the life of John the Baptist to see what made him usable by God.   

First, John was humble. 

John 3:27-30, John answered, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves bear witness of me, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but ‘I have been sent before Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom. But the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.” (MEV) 

“Although he had many crowds and people following him, he recognized his role was not to attract people to himself, but to push people to Jesus. His disciples came and complained to him that the crowds were following Jesus rather than him.”i 

John never allowed the people to believe he was the Christ.  He continually tried to turn the eyes of the people toward Jesus.  His disciples did not understand this because they became jealous on his behalf when people began following Jesus.  However, John understood that this was his ultimate goal and calling; to prepare the way for the Lord.   

Matthew 13:11, “I indeed baptize you with water to repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (MEV) 

Matthew 3:14-15, But John prohibited Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted Him. (MEV) 

“John fully accepted his subordinate role to Christ. He denied that he was the Christ and repeatedly emphasized that he was simply a witness to the Light.”ii 

John understood his role as one of preparation for Christ.  He preached repentance from sin, pointing people to the Savior, that he recognized, he too needed.  His humility is obvious in the passages above.  He first declares to the crowd gathered that his baptism is for repentance, but the one coming would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.  He then tries to dissuade Jesus from asking him to baptize him because he understands his own need of salvation.   

“John baptized with water unto repentance: the water was ceremonial and had no cleansing power; the repentance, though real, did not bring a person to full salvation. John viewed his ministry as preparatory and partial. The Messiah would completely overshadow John. He would be mightier, He would be more worthy, and His work would reach farther for He would baptize … with the Holy Spirit and fire.”iii 

Second, John was faithful. 

Luke 1:80, And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he remained in the wilderness until the day of his appearance to Israel. (MEV) 

“Prophets were known to use the isolation of the desert places to grow spiritually over time and to focus their message on God. By living apart from the culture in preparing for ministry, John was able to speak with great passion and clarity for the people of that day.”iv 

John stayed the course no matter how others felt about it.  He chose to live a life of simplicity and solitude in the wilderness, which was a hard and lonely life. His clothing of camel’s hair and food of locust and honey made his lifestyle choices vastly different from that of the society around him. Yet he maintained the vows his father had made over him and served God faithfully.   

 

John most often addressed the religious leaders, the Pharisees and Sadducees.  He was not concerned with how they felt about him.  He was in fact hated by the religious leaders; however, he was loved by the people.  He confronted the hypocrisy of the religious leaders and the religious establishment.   

Matthew 3:7, But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (ESV) 

Webster’s online 1828 dictionary defines faithfulness as: loyalty; firm adherence to; allegiance and duty; strict performance of promises, vows or covenants. 

Faithfulness has a cost, and we can see that in the life of John.  God does not call all believers to live lives of isolation as He did John, however, He does call us all to live faithfully the life He has given us.   

Third, John was obedient. 

Malachi 4:5-6, See, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreaded day of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse. (MEV) 

Isaiah 40:3, The voice of him who cries out, “Prepare the way of the Lord in the wilderness, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. (MEV) 

Luke 1:76-77, “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins, (MEV) 

“Though his life may seem extreme and most of us may not easily relate to a diet of locusts and honey, the heart of it is this: He chose obedience to God’s call. He said “yes” to God’s mission. Even when it probably was not easy. Even when he could have chosen his own way. He didn’t allow his own desires, or “stuff,” or even other people interfere with what he knew he was there to do, in that exact time in history. He lived with focused determination and purpose. He knew and understood God’s call, and he pursued it with his whole heart and life.”v 

John remained obedient throughout his lifetime.  He did not settle for the easier path of disobedience or partial obedience.  He understood his calling and carried it out to the end. He stood for righteousness, called sin, sin, and did not waiver in declaring the truth. As we will see in the next section, it was his uncompromising obedience that ultimately led to his death. 

Fourt, John was bold/courageous. 

Matthew 14:3-4, For Herod had laid hold of John, bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. For John said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” (MEV) 

“Herod had abandoned his wife and had been living in an adulterous, incestuous relationship with Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. As a prophet of God, John could not let this pass without rebuke. Indignantly and fearlessly, he pointed his finger at Herod and denounced him for his immorality.”vi 

John’s words condemning Herod of sin angered and bothered Herod so much that he had John arrested and put into prison.  Matthew 14:5 tells us that Herod had been so angry in fact that he wanted to kill John, and it was only out of fear of the people (who honored John and counted him as a prophet) that he refrained.   

“He [John] did not hesitate to expose the immorality of Herod and chose to die a martyr's death rather than compromise his convictions.”vii [Brackets mine.] 

“It was extremely dangerous to take such a bold public stand against such a powerful man who had the authority to arrest and kill you. The result was John’s arrest and subsequent murder. This account shows us again his great example of courage. He spoke forth the truth even when it was dangerous. He did not sugar coat it, or hide it. He said what needed to be said. He stood on what was right and didn’t compromise.”viii 

Fifth, John lived a surrendered life.   

John was in the family line of the priesthood.  He was in line to become a priest like his father and ancestors before him.  However, the circumstances surrounding his birth and the visit from the angel Gabriel told his father and mother that his was a specific calling for a specific time in history.   

We know from scripture that Elizabeth and Zachariah were old.  Elizabeth had been barren for many years by the time of Gabriel’s visit to Zachariah.  During his visit Gabriel declared the purpose for John’s life.  

Luke 1:15-17, For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. He will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 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.” (MEV) 

John was called to be a prophet for the Lord. Unlike the priests who lived honored and respected lives in relative comfort and ease, John surrendered his comfort to walk in obedience to the call of God.  It was in part their fear of losing their comfortable respectability and positions of high esteem that caused the religious leaders to not only reject John’s message of repentance but also to shout out against it.  However, despite all the opposition, John maintained his surrendered walk even unto death.   

God has called all believers to walk in humble submission, surrendering our lives and desires to his plans and purposes.  We might not become martyrs or be persecuted for our faith to the extent that others have been, however, just like John, we cannot shrink back from our responsibilities and calling as Christ followers. 

Paul reminds us in Philippians 1:21 that to live is Christ but to die is gain.  John the Baptist also understood this.  He did not live for fame or fortune.  He lived so that Holy Spirit could flow through him to reach the lost and broken world.  He lived surrendered to a higher call and purpose.  

In this lesson we have learned that John was fit for service because he was humble, faithful, obedient, bold/courageous, and he lived a surrendered life.  

Throughout this study, in the lives of the individuals we have looked at, we have seen unique as well as common characteristics.  We have seen how God’s hand was upon each one.   Being fit for service is a high calling, carries great responsibility, and often demands a high price, however, as we have seen throughout, God is faithful to equip us, to sustain us, to lead us, and to protect us.   

Father, as we come to the end of this study on being Fit for Service, may we each take a deep look at our lives, allowing Holy Spirit to reveal any areas of compromise, unfaithfulness, doubt, unbelief, fear, inconsistency, etc. May we also allow You to speak words of affirmation, encouragement, and life into our souls.  We acknowledge that being fit for service is not about being perfect, but about being obedient, pliable, yielded, humble, and walking in intimacy with you. Allowing you to lead and direct us as you see fit. We honor you Jesus for your sacrifice and ultimate example of being fit for service.  May we daily seek you and learn how to live, move, and have our being in you!!!!!  AMEN and AMEN!!!! 

Works Cited:

i https://studyandobey.com/character-studies/john-the-baptist-character-study/ 

ii https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/john-the-baptist/

iii Believer's Bible Commentary Copyright © 1989, 1990, 1992, 1995, 2016 by William MacDonald. 

iv https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/women/6-powerful-truths-from-the-life-of-john-the-baptist-that-offer-hope-for-today.html 

v https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/women/6-powerful-truths-from-the-life-of-john-the-baptist-that-offer-hope-for-today.html 

vi Believer's Bible Commentary Copyright © 1989, 1990, 1992, 1995, 2016 by William MacDonald. 

vii https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/john-the-baptist/ 

viii https://studyandobey.com/character-studies/john-the-baptist-character-study/