“And when the messengers of John had departed, he began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are in splendid clothing and luxury are in the royal palaces. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and even more than a prophet! 27 It is this man about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I am sending my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ Luke 7.24-27
The Gospel of John speaks about Jesus; now Jesus affirms John. They were relatives—cousins through their mothers, perhaps close in some ways. Maybe they even spent time together as boys. Perhaps this was Jesus’ closest childhood friend in the region of Galilee. Maybe John was the only peer with whom He could talk about the things of God and be truly understood. I don’t know. Scripture doesn’t mention any of this—only that they were related and lived as boys in nearby regions. I’m just speculating that they were close.
But Jesus affirms John by calling him more than a prophet and noting that his lifestyle called people to God and pointed them to Jesus. John was “the messenger” sent to “prepare the way” for the Messiah.
John had quite a calling! His whole life centered on preaching a message of repentance—calling people back to God. Had he been doing this for years before Jesus appeared on the scene? Had he spent his entire adult life calling for repentance? To proclaim a holy lifestyle, John had to model one himself. This is why he lived an ascetic life—clothed in camel’s hair with a leather belt, eating locusts and wild honey, dwelling in the wilderness with God and away from the lures of society.
While few of us have the opportunity to escape the trappings of this world entirely, we can still live lives that spread scriptural holiness across the land. John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement, preached this often. By it, he meant the inward transformation of the heart by the power of the Holy Spirit, which leads to outward ethical, moral, and godly living. Spreading biblical—or scriptural—holiness was what John the Baptizer was all about.
A prophet like John is ultimately called to draw people to God. We, too, can serve as “little prophets,” pointing the way to Jesus and living lives worthy of our calling.
“O Lord God, help me know You better. Help me walk each day with holiness and steadfast hope, knowing that You are here and You are near. As I walk through life, so blessed by You, enable me to be transformed inwardly by Your Spirit and to manifest Your love, grace, and truth to those around me. Amen.ward grace to the world. I love you Lord and praise your name. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen