"The Man Who Wasn't"

Have you ever thought about what it was like to be John the Baptistizer?  Neither had I until this morning at church.  Lee Shellnut, the pastor of the ARP church we have been attending while we are here in Albemarle, was greatly used of the Lord this morning, not only to convict me, but to answer my ongoing question since February.  Why aren't I teaching, "why Lord have you chosen to shut me off, why am I feeling so isolated, why I thought YOU had gifted me?"   Well, maybe he didn't completely answer my questions about the particulars, or the specifics, but he did answer the question regarding my attitude, character, and true job.  

John the Baptizer has never been a character in the Bible I have studied.  You remember him for the locust and honey, his "tele-evangelistic" style preaching, and the fact that he was a very, anointed child in the womb.  I had never really thought about him as a man.  Lee told us that John was greatly known throughout the Mediterranean as a "rock star" type personality.  He drew great crowds, and many began meeting with the sole purpose of being his disciples.  The Hebrews were known for this.  They would choose a Rabbi in which to follow and name themselves for being that particular Rabbi's follower.  We gain some of the perspective on John the Baptist from the Apostle John.  

John 1:

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.
3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

"2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned."  Isaiah 9:2 (Just thought I would add a bit of a Christmas verse)

6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

15 John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' " 16From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only,who is at the Father's side, has made him known.

19 Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Christ."
21They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?"
He said, "I am not."
"Are you the Prophet?"
He answered, "No."

22 Finally they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"

23John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.' "

24Now some Pharisees who had been sent 25questioned him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"

26"I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. 27He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."

John says, "Hey guys, I am not the one.  I am not the one who was promised.  Yea, I have made a big splash.  I could appear on Oprah, CNN, and sleep in the Oval Office, but I am not HE.  I too am looking for a change, but I cannot give it to you.  I can only point you to Him.  He is the way.  Yes, I am a gifted teacher, you have learned so much from me.  Personally, I have liked being in the lime light, feeling significant from your words, your love, your meals (it's a lot better than locust and honey.)  That is all over now.  I have "to decrease, He has to increase," John 3:30.  

OK, maybe I am going over board with the tongue in cheek, but I put myself in his place this morning and saw some of the feelings I have felt over these past few months.   "Lord, I once taught women  the Bible, teens the Bible and an array of subjects, I was involved in a mentoring ministry, discipleship, writing, and host of other "valuable" ministries for You.  Why did You take them away?  Why do I find myself asking the question, why am I here on this shelf?  (See blog post named, "This Little Shelf of Mine," (poem).  Do you think John the Baptizer thought those types of questions?  I am sure he was much more sanctified than I am, after all he was willing to eat locust and wild honey, have a camel as his tailor, and make Herod really, really mad at him.  He also was a man.  In prison, after Herod arrested him for telling him he was a "terrible" sinner, he questioned, "was this really the Messiah?"  Do you think he ever had the questions, "All I ever wanted to do was your will, why put me here?"  Maybe, he didn't, but I have.  Lee touched on some of the reasons this morning.  I am not quite satisfied with being on this shelf, because I liked the affirmation I was receiving, I liked being known, loved, and cared for by many people that really did care and were right there.  Is God sovereign?  Yes.  Was He sovereign over John the Baptizer's life also?  Yes.  Am I to be the one that points the way?  Yes.  I am to do that whether I am in a position of where I was, or in the position where I am now.  Remember John ended up with his head on a platter, literally.    The ONLY way to have peace and contentment where I am is to humble myself before God.  Whether here or there, humility is the key.  And yet, even in saying that, I feel as John did when he said, "I am not even worthy to untie His sandal."  Neither am I.  

Thanks Pastor Shellnut for your faithful preaching of God's Word.  

PS:  There are ways of observing your behavior to see if you have really gotten something the Lord is teaching you.  How then do you treat those around you?  Are you willing to do things for them that are what you perceive "below" you?  How about your speech?  Do you build those around you up or do you "jokingly" put them down in order to make yourself look better?  Do you listen to those little promptings that the Holy Spirit gives you to even if you are too busy to do them?  What about your family especially, do you have a servant's attitude, or do you expect them to do for you?  Ouch!

Awaiting the Marriage Supper.......................Lynn