Devotioal 12-4-11

Please read Mark 1:1-8

I find John the Baptist intriguing. His parents longed for a baby all of their married life, but it was not until they were quite aged that a pregnancy occurred. The angel Gabriel was sent to announce the baby’s coming. His father, Zechariah, was struck dumb because of his inability to believe that his wife Elizabeth conceived. A few months later, Gabriel visited Mary, the mother of Jesus, to tell her that she, too, would have a special baby, even though she wasn’t married. Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth perhaps for guidance and support. Mary learned that in spite of her long inability to conceive, Elizabeth was now pregnant. Elizabeth told Mary that the baby inside of her leapt when he heard Mary’s voice.

These are miraculous events that took place in the life of a very important baby who became an important man. We don’t hear anything else about John until he appears years later in the wilderness around the Jordan River baptizing people in that river. Where has he been all of this time? No one knows for sure, but many scholars think he was with the Essenes, a monastic community which lived around the Dead Sea. His parents probably did not live much longer after his birth, since they were quite aged when he was born, according to Scripture. He appears in Mark’s gospel as a fully adult man. At other places in the Bible he is described as someone who dressed in animal skins and ate things that most of would not. When Jesus wanted to receive baptism from John, John told him that he was not worthy to untie Jesus’ sandals.

What God is bringing to my spiritual consciousness this Advent is the fact that John was a powerful man with a large following and disciples of his own. Yet he chose to be a fore runner. He made a well thought out, and prayed out, decision to put someone ahead of himself. At first, he seems quite sure that Jesus is the Messiah, but other places in the Gospels it seems as though he is questioning that. Yet, he never tried to take power away from Jesus, but was always putting Jesus ahead of himself. Are we willing to be in second place this Advent season? Do we want the recognition and applause that we feel we deserve because of our accomplishments? If we don’t want public recognition, then do we conduct ourselves in the hope that God will notice how good we’re being or what sacrifices we are making? The world tells us that being number one is the only place to be, the only thing that counts. The words and actions of John the Baptist fly in the face of that. This year, will we point the way to Jesus by our words and actions? Are we willing to consciously accept being number two, or three, or . . .? Advent is a wonderful, but truly stressful time of year. Are we getting the right presents for our families and friends? Will we receive the things we really want? Will the meals be wonderful, the cookies cleverly decorated, our homes immaculate and our halls decked beautifully? Why are we doing all of that anyway? John the Baptist put someone else before himself. Can we?

Rev. Dorcas Conrad
Highland Ave. UMC
Fairmont, WV