A Voice in the Wilderness

A Voice in the Wilderness

John the Baptist lived in the wilderness, ate locusts and wild honey, wore camel's hair — a deliberate visual identification with Elijah, the last of the great prophets who called Israel to repentance. He was the boundary-crosser between the old covenant and the new: 'among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he' (Matthew 11:11). He was the last voice in the old mode, the first herald of the new. His entire ministry was pointing: look, not at me, but at the One coming after me. The one who decreases so Another can increase is one of the most Christlike figures in the Gospels.

Luke 3:4-6 quotes the entirety of Isaiah 40:3-5 to describe John's mission. The road-building image — prepare the way, make straight paths, fill valleys, level mountains — is a description of John's preaching of repentance: clear the internal obstacles that prevent the King from entering. John's message was not welcoming and comfortable; it was confrontational and specific. 'Produce fruit in keeping with repentance' (verse 8). The Advent message is always both: comfort from God's side, preparation on the human side. John represents the preparation side. What obstacles in you still need clearing before the King arrives?