I went back to Luke again today and pondered on the words of verse 80 about John:
“And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.”
I just kept asking myself, “Why would he stay in the wilderness?” God had been silent for 400 years from the Old Testament to the New Testament and was using John to bear witness to The Light of the World. I know that prophets of old would go into the desert into isolation to grow spiritually and focus on God. Usually in our own spiritual wilderness we are able to see God more clearly without the distractions of culture and worldly pleasures. Inside the wilderness, God is seen clearly and with more clarity.
I picture John being a simple child and adult. A simple diet of locusts and honey.
Clothed simply with camel hair and a leather belt…a sackcloth of sorts.
I’m just speculating, because scripture doesn’t say…but I presume that the wearing of that clothing was a sign of mourning or repentance. That was customary in those times…but maybe he just didn’t want to cloud his mind with being like everyone else…he was trying to empty himself of himself and decrease John and increase Jesus! Displaying the repentance needed when coming to Jesus, maybe?
John came to point the world to Jesus and he pursued that whole-heartedly. His humility and obedience is one to be rivaled. I then asked myself the question, “What can I do to point others to The Light?”
What can we decrease in us that will help increase Jesus? What is our purpose?
Just as John was a voice crying in the wilderness and his message prepared those for the coming of the Messiah…we must also be crying to this lost and dying world about the second coming of The King of Glory!
