THE WEIRD AND WILD: JOHN THE BAPTIST

ILLUSTRATION: Discuss a time when you got distracted from something really important. Maybe you were scrolling on your phone or distracted by the television. Try to capture that relatable tension.

TENSION

We can all be guilty of this. Around the holiday, we can get in a holi-daze. It’s almost like a trance — where our efforts to experience the perfect holiday makes us actually miss the holiday. It’s ironic, isn’t it?

We can be so busy around the Christmas season that we miss all the glory amid the grind.

There are thousands of amazing things to take in during Christmas, so be sure to slow down to cherish them.

From chaotic time with family to calm evenings around a fire, be sure to really experience the sense of awe and wonder this season is all about.

When we think of the glory of Christmas — one character comes to mind. He was the first person to get caught up in the wonder of it all — far before Jesus even started his ministry.

He was actually the cousin of Christ, born at about the same time, and he can teach us a lot about Christmas.

John the Baptist is a background character with a big impact.

• Have you ever been on a cruise ship?

• These things are like massive cities floating at sea. It’s mind-blowing.

• Each vessel creates its own power from an onboard power plant, runs hundreds of small businesses, and boasts a population larger than many towns in the mid west.

• Despite the mammoth size of one of these leisure ships, the whole craft is controlled by a tiny wheel and a rudder.

• These two relatively small instruments move the entire sea-city from port to port, speeding atop deep waters. It’s fascinating how something so small can accomplish so much.

• When you think of the Christmas story, you know all of the major characters. You think, "Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and some farm animals. I got it!”

• However, there are some minor characters in this major story. Each of these individuals is like the wheel of a ship or the rudder beneath the water. They may seem small, but they help move the story forward in a big way.

• Each plays a powerful role in the story of Jesus coming to Earth 2000 years ago, and also teaches us valuable life-lessons for today.

INTRODUCTION

• Today we are going to examine one of the primary background players in the story of Christmas.

• He, like a rudder of a ship, was a small character that made a big impact. He was ultimately responsible for getting the public ready for the King of the World.

• This was, of course, John the Baptist.

• We are in a series called “Advent.”

• As we discussed last week, the word Advent simply means arrival. There were numerous prophets who set the stage for the coming Savior.

• The first prophecy of Jesus shows up in Genesis chapter 3. Yep, the second page of the Bible — they’re already anxiously anticipating the coming King.

• Numerous Old Testament prophets followed — David, Samuel, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Malachi.

• Then, as the arrival came closer, a new prophet began setting the stage.

• John the Baptist was extremely unlikely — even a little bizarre. However, God used a weird man to make a way for Jesus.

• Let’s turn in our Bibles to the gospel of Luke, where the physician-turned-apostle, Luke, gives us some context to help us understand John the Baptist in light of the Christmas Story.

• Why are we talking about John the Baptist in a series about anticipating the Almighty King Jesus? Great question.

• The Bible considers him a key player in the nativity story. In Luke 1:80, the author places his story smack dab in the middle of the angels coming to Mary and Joseph.

• The text reads: “And the child [John the Baptist] grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.”

• John was like the flower girl to Jesus — only much less cute. He walked down the aisle to announce who was coming next.

• Sure, people pay attention to the flower girl, but their eyes are really on the bride. The same is true with John.  

• Of course, people noticed the shaggy prophet — but Jesus was the star of the show.

• John the Baptist shows up at the introduction of all four Gospels.

• John shows up as a slightly bizarre man in the wilderness with dreadlocks in his hair and honey stuck to his beard. He looks a little messy, but his message is miraculous — the King is coming.

• John was the opening act for the main show — Jesus.

• He prepared the people. • He preached about the importance of repentance.

• And He made a big scene with his distinct approach to ministry.

• Jesus himself will eventually say of him, “among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist.”

• John sparked a movement in the middle of the desert.

• His clear call to repentance was crystal clear to the people of Israel. They all thought, “God is about to do something big.”

• That big thing was actually a little baby born in a manger.

• John the Baptist selected a strange life for himself.

• Instead of living within a city with easy access to groceries, water, and entertainment, he chose to live in the wilderness.

• Apostle Matthew calls him a "wild man" who ate locusts, foraged for honey, and created his clothes from dead camel’s fur.

• His choice to dwell in the middle of a desert seemed bizarre, but John saw it as a blessing. He lived a life solely focused on pointing people to Jesus. Scholars consider him the “front-runner” of Christ.

• Like a Christmas caroler singing on the street corner, John got to proudly pronounce the coming Messiah. Ultimately, it was John’s job to pave the way for Jesus.

• That’s why Luke recounts John’s birth before the nativity scene. John set the stage for the Savior.

• This leads us to two key principles as we anticipate the coming King.

1: God can use your weirdness

• God leveraged a smelly wilderness-man to announce the coming King.

• John, with his camel fur vest, rat’s nest hair, and locusts dipped in honey, was first to preach the good news of great joy that encompasses Christmas.

• God could have invited anyone to be the front-runner for Jesus.

• He could have thrown a massive music festival with A-list celebrities, a red carpet, and flashing lights, but He didn’t.

• He could have worked with the most influential religious rulers of the day, but He didn’t.

• He could have sent legions of angels to every town in the world, but He didn’t.

• God chose locust-eating, weird-dressing, John the Baptist to start the show.

• God operates in the least likely ways.

• God loves going the unlikely direction, using unlikely people, and leveraging unlikely events to bring about His goals on this globe. God’s not limited by anyone’s weirdness.

• You don’t have to change who you are to play a part in God’s story. God will use you in a great way— even with your quirks and shortcomings.

2: God can use your wilderness

• Our friend John lived in the literal wilderness.

• He prepared the way of Jesus while living off the sandy land in a make shift tent.

• While this may seem like suffering, it was actually a blessing.

• The desert developed him.

• The desert helped him grow more dependent on God. The desert helped him discover God in new ways.

• Ultimately, his time in the wilderness proved to have a paramount purpose.

• You may never be a wild man living off of locusts in the desert, but you may still face the wilderness.

• It may be loneliness, emotional numbness, emptiness, loss, financial hardships, or even desperate cries in the middle of the night.

• The desert is difficult, but there is good news.

• God intentionally uses the deserted and desolate places in our lives. He leverages our dry seasons to develop us into who we need to be and drives us to what we need to do next.

• Don’t waste your wilderness. These uncertain times can help you grow more focused on faith and more dependent on Jesus.

• Regardless of your weirdness, God can do big things through you.

• He doesn’t care that you have a lisp, cry when you see a chicken truck, walk with your feet jutted out, or feel uncomfortable in front of a crowd.

• God made you exactly as you are — even the weird parts.

• God is ready to use you, an ordinary person, for His extraordinary purposes.

• Regardless of your wilderness, God can do big things through you.

• I am sure many of you have been through some difficult situations. Job postings in God’s kingdom don’t require perfect people; they just require willing participation.

• I am sure your family isn’t perfect, your situation was unordinary, and your shortcomings stack up like presents on Christmas Eve.

• That doesn’t stop God from wanting to do something amazing through you.

• God can use it all — your weirdness and your wilderness — to accomplish His purposes for you.

• God is ready to use you, an ordinary person, for His extraordinary purposes.

TALK IT OUT Go through these questions with your circle. Be honest. Be open. Talk through the tough stuff.

Who is your favorite supporting character in one of your favorite movies or TV shows? Why?

What kind of person do you think the Jewish people expected would pave the way for Jesus’s arrival on Earth?

Why do you think God chose to include a “weird” guy like John the Baptist in His most important plans in history? What does this teach us about God?

How can your difficult times in the “wilderness” help you develop into someone who is ready to be called by God for big things?

How can you begin to embrace your weirdness and/or wilderness this Christmas season?

READ THESE PASSAGES IN ORDER EVERY DAY

Luke 1:26-38

Isaiah 9:2-7

Acts 1:1-8

James 1:13-18

Psalm 27:7-14

Jude 1:20-25

Romans 8:19-27

Psalm 25:1-5

Do the following with each passage:

ASK– God to connect with you here. In prayer, start by slowing down and inviting God to be present. Begin with focus and openness to see what God has for you today.

READ– the selected section of Scripture slowly. Take note of the words and phrases that intrigue you, reading them a second time if necessary.

REFLECT– on what grabs you. How does this passage personally relate to your own life and experiences?

RESPOND– to the Scripture. Speak directly to God about what’s on your mind and heart. Look for ways to live out what you’ve uncovered.