The Voice

 John the Baptist is known for many things.  His first appearance in Scripture comes while he is still in his mother's womb.  When Mary went to see her kinswoman, Elizabeth, in search of some external validation concerning the words of the angel to her about the birth of Jesus, the Word tells us "When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child within her leaped in her womb..." (Luke 1:41).  The child who leaped in his mother's womb was John.  But, John is not known for his leaping ability, but as "The voice"  whose mission was prophesied by the prophet Isaiah centuries earlier.  John the Baptist was "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness."  (Luke 3:4...Isaiah 40:3).   

John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus.  He announced His coming.  He declared Him to be "the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." (John1:39).  He was a man willing to let go of his own disciples that they might go after Jesus.  John was a shadow dweller.  He was content to live in the shadow of Jesus.  Like the Holy Spirit, John the Baptist did not call attention to himself, but lived to point people toward Jesus.  He lived fighting the currents created by those who wanted to shut him up and he boldly spoke his unpopular message because the knew repentance was at the heart of what was needed by his people.   

The need for a voice like John the Baptist still exists in our society and in our church.  Too many speak a message about sin that is so compromised it is hard to conceive of it coming from the Scripture.  A recent definition offered by a church leader defined sin as something that hurt you and hurt another.  It is a word which falls far short of the way sin is disobedience to God and disregard for His ways.  John the Baptist would not likely be welcomed in some churches of our day, maybe even most, but his voice is surely one which needs to be heard.