In Luke 7:24-28 we read the following:
When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written:
‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’
For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
John the Baptist, being the son of a Jewish priest, must have been familiar with all the sacrifices required by the Jewish tradition. He must've seen countless lambs sacrificed but had a different calling than that of his father Zachariah.
He had to wander in the wilderness dressed in skins, and his message was that people should repent, turn from their ways. When he saw Jesus, he pointed to him twice in the same number of days. 'But there is the lamb of God!' Like all the other Jews. He must've expected the Messiah, someone that would come and restore Israel. The one promised in the old Testament who would come. And when John was asked who he, himself, was his reply, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make straight the way of the Lord!" as the prophet, Isaiah said. But was he expecting his cousin to be this mighty Messiah? Although he pointed to Jesus twice as the lamb of God, he still sent some of his disciples to Jesus while being in prison to find out if Jesus was the one they were expecting, or is there going to be someone else? John had the vision of who Jesus was when he was at the height of his ministry, but when he was thrown into prison, he might have had his doubts.
"Could my cousin, the one I know so well, really be the one we are expecting? It is one thing to have hope in Christ when things are going well, but when things aren't going as planned, then we tend to lose hope. Are we really following the right one? Can I trust him? Should we continue to have hope in His word?
And then in the first chapter 1 Peter, we read: "Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ who, according to his abundant mercy, has begotten us again, to living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." In the midst of any persecution, all trials that we might face, we have a living hope.
I listen to someone bring a word of encouragement, quoting the word of God, but nowhere did they ever mention the name of Jesus. Do the right things. They said, do not give up. Have the right values. Follow your calling, but no where did they speak of him, of Jesus, and that He is the one in whom we should place our hope.
Jesus is our hope. John did not have a long and successful ministry. He was thrown into prison, but he never ceased to point people to the person of Christ. We can take courage when looking at the life of John the Baptist. Although people around us may think of our life and ministry, that it's not successful and that it may not last for a long period of time. We must realize when our father is in control. In this Christmas season, show people the way to Jesus, the hope of our salvation.
"Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."
