1In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was,2“Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of cHeaven is near.”3The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said,“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,
4John’s clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey.5People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John.6And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.
John the Baptist was crazy. Did you read the description of him? Camel’s hair cloth was course and itchy and extremely cheap. He lived in the wilderness and at bugs and whatever food the wilderness supplied. Imagine seeing someone like him today. What would you think? John the Baptist was crazy.
Crazy for God! Look again at John. Here was a man who had absolutely no use for anything of this world. He didn’t care about what he wore, or what he ate, or where he lived. What did he care about? “Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!” John was a man who was on a mission from God, and nothing else mattered. He was crazy for God.
And the people came to him to confess their sins and to be baptized. Why? It was a symbol of starting a new life. They came to John, admitted their wretched lives of sins, went under the water, and immersed ready to start a new life (born again) dedicated to God. This is exactly like baptism today except that when we are baptized in the name of Jesus we actually come up a new person.
Lord, help me to be “crazy” for You like John was. Help me to live here on this earth for You and only You. You have brought me to the river. I know that “my” life is wretched and sinful, but You have completely remade me and I am a new child of You. Make me a crazy child – crazy for You!
Can someone out there share a moment in their life when they came to know Jesus and became a new person? Or have you had a moment where you met someone like John the Baptist? Share. Beginner’s Online Bible Study *obbs*
