We love the Bible stories of the great prophets. It’s thrilling to revisit Elijah ‘s experience on Mt. Carmel when God brought down fire on Elijah’s sacrifice after the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal had spent half the day trying to invoke their god to accept their sacrifice. The victory that Elijah achieved has made history for thousands of years, and it was just one of Elijah’s miracles.(1 Kings 18) Elijah’s apprentice, Elisha, also had great victories. He healed Naaman, the commander of the Syrian army, of leprosy, (2 Kings 5), and received divine protection when soldiers were surrounding his home to capture him. (2 Kings 6:16) These are only a few of the many deeds of these two prophets, and these are only two of the many prophets who were the “conscience” of Israel , and the link to their God.

These giants of the faith, who helped shape the nation of Israel, lived colorful and even amazing lives; but the very last great prophet, John the Baptist, was said by Jesus to be the greatest of all: “Truly I tell you, among those born of a woman , there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist.”( Luke 7: 28)

John’s resume does not include even one miracle since his miraculous birth to a mother too old to bear a child. When he grew up, John lived in the wilderness. To the people of Israel he became like the other prophets, as Isaiah had described, “A voice , calling in the wilderness.” (Luke 3:2) John’s “calling” drew crowds of people to hear words that they felt sure were given to John by God. John preached a message of repentance, moving ordinary people to seek the renewal of baptism from him and his disciples. John alone knew that the Messiah was near. Out of that knowledge he drew crowds of people to repentance and to softened hearts toward their God.

Jesus continued: . . . “yet one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he” (Luke 7:28) John recognized his cousin Jesus as the Messiah and the savior of not only Israel, but of mankind. John pronounced the change in the world: “The One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. I have seen and I testify that this is God’s chosen one.” (John 1:32-34) John also said, “The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine. . . He must become greater, and I must become less.“

Love in Him,

Prue