John the Baptist recognizes the Prince of Peace

Two weeks ago my 26 year old daughter had her believer’s baptism at College Park church professing her identification with Christ’s death burial and resurrection, and confessing her personal commitment to following Him. It was a special night as I heard her recognize the Prince of Peace.

As we begin the Christmas season, I think about the famous baptizer, John, son of the priest Zechariah and his barren wife Elizabeth. God chose to begin the story of Jesus birth, by telling us about this special man, John, who was to prepare the way of the Lord in the power of the prophet Elijah. When he was born, it says the neighbors were filled with awe, and they were asking, “What then is this child going to be?” for the Lord’s hand was with him.

John the Baptist first recognizes the presence of the God-man Jesus Christ when he is an unborn baby in the womb of his mother. At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby (John) leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Matthew 1:39-44.

30 years later and preparing the Jews for Jesus ministry, John is baptizing sinners as a sign of repentance when Jesus appears on the scene. The next day 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 cam baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known Him, except that the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God” John 1:29-34

Although Jesus birth was a normal and humble beginning, there were so many miraculous happenings predicted before, and surrounding His birth, including the beginning of this special man, John. Get a blessing this season by reading the accounts in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. And, take joy in the reason for the season.