The Servant at the River

John the Baptist was not exactly a prophet though he came across in the prophet mode.  Neither was he a polished teacher.   And while his personality might not be regarded as charismatic, there was something about him which caused people to come out to the Jordan River where he was preaching and baptizing.  Some surely came out of curiosity, but there were others who went out where he was with hope that he might be the one signaling change.  And, of course, some went out of spiritual hunger. 

 

Regardless of why folks came, John the Baptist was not concerned with meeting their expectations.  He was an unusual kind of man.  He was one who was content to dwell in the shadows.  Once Jesus showed up on the scene, he moves off the stage.  He even gave those who were his disciples encouragement to become disciples of Jesus.  And, of course, in the end his faithfulness to who God was calling him to be cost him his life.  Many things can be said of the Baptizer, but it is most assuredly true that he knew how to live as a servant.

 

Before he ever became visible out there on the edge of the wilderness, he lived to serve God.  As is the case with Jesus, we know nothing about John as a young child, or as a young adult.  Somewhere around his 30th year, he becomes visible and then only for a short time.  What is seen and learned about him from his ministry around the Jordan River is that this life long servant of God became a servant of Jesus as soon as Jesus stepped out of the shadows.  It is obvious that there was nothing more important to him than pointing people to Jesus and in the pointing he served the One who had been sent by God.