“What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written,
‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.’” (Matthew 11:7b-10)
At this time of the year, most of the world is focused on Christmas, but not upon Jesus. Still, this is great time to share the gospel of salvation in Jesus. Thus, the truths Jesus pointed out about John the Baptist are qualities we modern believers ought to emulate. For one thing, John never bowed to the pressure to conform to the ways of the world or the legalism of the so-called leaders of the Jewish people. He boldly confronted crowds, elites, and rulers. Neither did John pursue personal comfort but faithfully embraced a life of sacrifice. He did not merely serve as a prophet but vigorously announced the coming of the Messiah.
We believers are called to boldly confront the worldly powers and systems that seek to force us all to conform to the image of what is popular, trendy, woke, and non-offensive. We are to remind the people in our world that Christmas is really to honor Jesus who came into the world to save all human beings from sin, chaos, and death. He bore our sins on the cross of Golgotha to make us righteous before God. He fervently desires to lead all men and women to faith so they may share in His peace, comfort, and eternal joy. But many if not most reject the fact that Jesus is God. They denigrate and malign the Word of God, considering it but the words and thoughts of primitive men who were unaware of the secrets of the universe that science has uncovered over the last centuries. They reject God Himself and His authority; they set man up as the supreme authority in the universe. No wonder the world is filled with violence and chaos. It is dominated by millions of self-proclaimed and self-centered demigods.
Those who do not have faith in Jesus, those who are offended by Him and the Gospel are doomed to spend eternity apart from God in eternal darkness. And the Church, we believers have been appointed to fulfill the calling of Jesus, the call for sinners to repent. We are chosen to bring the message of spiritual life and wholeness in Jesus to those who are spiritually blind, deaf, lame, corrupt, and dead and do not know it. We are called to proclaim that forgiveness of sins is granted to all now through Jesus Christ.