Get Real #3.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Get Real #3. If Jesus called someone the greatest, wouldn’t you agree that’s worth looking into? If Jesus gave someone the label of “Greatest Preacher,” wouldn’t that certainly carry some weight? The label of greatest, given by Jesus, is definitely worth paying attention to. It should make us pause to ask the question, “Who was this guy Jesus said this about, and what was so great about him?”
John the Baptist wasn’t a mega-church pastor. He never wrote a book that I know of. He never received a doctorate in theology. I’m pretty certain he never got an invitation to be the keynote speaker at a large function, or anywhere for that matter. Kings hated him and the religious avoided him. Yet Jesus said he was great. As a matter of fact, Jesus said there’s never been a greater prophet on this planet than John. Why?
I think it’s worth noting that much of the description of John the Baptizer would earn him the label “crazy” today, and most likely not “great.” He traveled the countryside wearing animal skin and eating locusts and wild honey. Imagine what a man living on the land would look like after a while, especially wearing clothes made from animal hide. I am pretty sure his apparel wouldn’t earn him any points in the fashion show we currently call “Sunday morning” in America.
Another poignant element of John’s ministry is also one that wouldn’t help him climb the latter of “ministry success” today: he only preached one sermon! He didn’t have a notebook (or laptop) full of outlines. He didn’t pull out his “Pastors’ Handbook” to look up appropriate Scriptures for the occasion. No, he preached one sermon, and it wasn’t a fun, uplifting, or even popular one. His one sermon could be boiled down to a one word title with a simple subtitle: Repent – The Kingdom of Heaven is At Hand.
Not only was that his title, but also the largest portion of his content! He was all about proclaiming the coming of Jesus, and not himself. As a matter of fact, when crowds asked him who he was on one recorded occasion, he didn’t even give them his name. He simply answered, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness saying, ‘Declare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.’” If someone were building an empire on their self and storing up a reputation or fame, wouldn’t you think they would share their own name when they were given opportunities like that?
John existed to accomplish the will and purpose of God for the honor and glory of God, it’s that simple. I am pretty sure it’s those two elements that earn someone today the title of “crazy” in the eyes of the world, and even modern Christianity. Yet it’s pretty easy to see that to live a life in that way also matters to God – and in a big way. Who are you living for?



That’s just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Until next time,
blake

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