Echoes of Easter part 1

Matthew 3:13

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

As you've probably noticed by now I like to dwell on the underappreciated bible characters, the wise men, the shepherds, and other people who are normally not thought about in bible stories. And so with this post I want to dwell on a man who even Jesus said that there was no one like him, and that man is John the Baptist. 

Who was John the Baptist? Well he was the son of Zacharias and Elizabeth. Zacharias was a priest in the temple and one day the angel of the lord appeared to him in the temple and said that his wife Elizabeth would have a son. But they were both very old and he was skeptical. But nevertheless she did and John the Baptist grew to be a man full of the Holy Spirit. (Luke 1:1-25)

Matthew 11:11

Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

These are Jesus's words about John the Baptist, who was Jesus's cousin by the way. If this is not a testimony to his character then I don't know what is. He is in my mind one of the most humble characters in the New Testament. He said in John 3:30, He must increase, but I must decrease. His job was to prepare the way for our lord and savior Jesus Christ. His job was to soften the hearts of those who Jesus would ultimately save. 

Malachi 4:5-6

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet

before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:

And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children,

and the heart of the children to their fathers,

lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

John the Baptist was the prophesied one who would come before the lord. These verses are talking about him. And yet he considered himself not even worthy to untie Jesus's sandals. How much humility does that take to be the prophesied one who would come before the lord and yet not even count yourself on the same level as Jesus. And yet Jesus asked to be baptized of him. And not only that but he beheld, and those with him, the trinity. God the father spoke saying "this is my beloved son in whom I'm well pleased." The Holy Spirit came down like a dove on Jesus. And the son of God stood in the midst of the waters. 

Hear the echoes of John the Baptist. Hear the echoes of his humility and aspire to be as humble as the prophesied Elijah, who counted himself not even worthy enough to untie his saviors sandals. 

Matthew 3

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.