Scripture:
Mark 1:6-8 NKJV
[6] Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. [7] And he preached, saying, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. [8] I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Observation:
I’m always fascinated by the fact that they pit John the Baptist description in the bible, and over the years, I have wondered why that was. But as you read the bible, you can see that there are descriptions of a lot of people. Including but not limited to religious leaders and a very short man who had to get into a tree to see Jesus as HE walked by. But what I want to look at this morning is a contrast. It seems to me that when Jesus mentioned the way the religious leaders looked, a statement of correction always came shortly after. In fact, it might sound something like… you guys look religious, but your heart is not right. But no matter what the reason HE rebuked them. It still leaves us with the question of why GOD saw fit to put John’s description in the bible… so let’s take a look at the description and see if we can find out. First, his physical appearance would, in today’s words, say John was a real man, with camel hair and leather. Sounds like my kind of people. I believe what is being said between the lines here is that he looked like almost every man except the religious leaders. A little rough around the edges… beard, maybe hair that was a little longer… a woodsman perhaps, or at the least someone you could run into on the street. His food is another point that GOD saw fit to paint a picture of. Locust and honestly this seems a little odd and makes a statement as well. Although he looked like your average man, he was not. John had taken a nazerite vow with no wine had ever touched his lips, nothing dead, and so on. So, although he looked like you and I, he was different. Now, to the Parr of the description that matters. Verse 7 says he preached of one to come that was greater than he was… one that he was not fit to tie HIS sandals. John had a job, and he knew his position… it was to prepare the way for Jesus. He is the Christ, the savior of the world, and John knew it. His job was to get the people ready to receive HIM. Preaching repentance and baptism. Yet telling them that the Holy Spirit was going to be a part of how all this went down as well.
Application:
It doesn’t matter what you look like. In fact, the rougher you look, the more people you can reach. I’m going to be completely honest here and say. If it were not for the appearance of the man who had a great deal to do with me coming to Christ. I would probably still be caught up in my sin. He was a big burley biker-looking individual. Who’s name, ironically enough, is John. Much like me, he was not a suit-and-tie Christian. But he was filled with the Holy Spirit. My point in saying all this is to tell you. You don’t have to look religious to have a relationship with Jesus. Your picture tells a story of redemption. GOD wants to use you no matter what you look like. He has a group of people for you to reach, and to be honest, they probably look just like you. You see, GOD put John’s description in the bible so that we could see that HE wants us to be real people… people just like you, and I…people that can talk to anyone. HE has painted a picture of redemption with your life for others to see so that you can tell them how it happened. GOD has a plan. HE wants to use the picture HE has painted with your life to reach people just like you and more. People, your pastor can’t reach you because he doesn’t have the tattoos you do, maybe or he doesn’t truly understand their lifestyle. GOD has built you for the specific task of making disciples. We are to be fishers of men. Religious people just gather more religious people. But those who have a relationship with Jesus build relationships with others and make disciples. Are you a disciple-maker? It’s not a request it’s a command. HE doesn’t ask us to go. HE tells us to GO
Prayer:
Father, you have such an amazing way of teaching us, and I love the fact that you nit us together inside our mother’s womb. You have given us all the characteristics and personality traits we need to do the work you have called us to. Throughout our lives, you have built and strengthened those characteristics and traits to be used for your kingdom. Help us to see how to use those things to further your kingdom. We want to be used by you. You have given us a specific people group to reach. Because of the mosaic you have painted with our lives. It’s a beautiful picture of redemption. Through your one and only son. That picture gives us tools for the harvest, and we are the last-hour workers. We just want to be used by you. Give us words to say and people to speak them to. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus we pray, amen.