As the Apostle John began the earthly part of his story of Jesus' life, he alluded to Israel's history.  In portraying the Levite, John the Baptist, calling his fellow countrymen to repent from their sin, the setting was near the place where Israel's ancestors crossed the Jordan River to begin a new nation (Joshua 3-4). As a reflection of that historical event, John prepared the nation to follow their promised Messiah to an even more significant new beginning.

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."
This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

"A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
'Prepare the way for the Lord,
 make straight paths for him.'"  Matthew 3:1-3 NIV (Isaiah 40:3)


John was led by God to select the wilderness site for baptismal cleansing, indicating repentance. Some priests arrived as representatives of Jerusalem Temple authorities asking about the basis of John's ministry. A contributing factor to their uncertainty about his qualifications to conduct such a radical ministry could have included this fact: John hadn't chosen any of the ritual cleansing baths around the Temple (under their supervision and control) as a venue for his ministry of repentance. 

Following Jesus is always preceded by true repentance – a realization that all humans have departed from His original intention for us. Tangible religious vehicles like the ritual cleansing baths around the Jerusalem Temple can present potential distractions that obscure the heart cleansing redemption offered through Jesus' life, death and resurrection. Unlike the religious traditionalist authorities, John the Baptist had clear vision to see Jesus' true identity:

…John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel." John 1:29-31 NIV


After we initially encounter His glorious salvation, Jesus continues disclosing aspects of his character and plans to us. However, religious stagnation, like that displayed by Jerusalem's religious authorities, can slow our understanding of those revelations. A common cause of stagnation is ingesting spiritual information while being slow to serve Him through scripturally healthy avenues. At times we need refreshers – new beginnings.

If you aren't suffering from spiritual stagnation, that's fantastic. Ask God to bring to mind someone needing your encouragement as they pursue a new area of service matching their spiritual gifts. If you're in a spiritual rut, ask a friend to help you explore a new path of service.


by Kathleen Petersen