When John the Baptist cast a giant shadow on the Judean wilderness and the banks of the river Jordan, he was-larger than life and his explosive message resonated with those who had a deep seated hunger for the restoration of Israel and an undying hope for the appearance of the Messiah (some even thought John may be the Messiah or the messianic prophet promised by Moses or even Elijah; see John 1:19-21; Deut. 18:15,18). But John insisted that he was a voice crying in the wilderness calling people to repentance and preparation for the advent of the Messiah whose appearance was imminent. Interestingly enough, John’s message not only fit in with the times in which he lived but also is very timely for the days in which we live.
Consider the political climate in which we live. We find ourselves in the midst of an economic disaster which could reduce us to a second-rate power if we do not come up with some real answers to our fiscal problems. Many have pinned their hopes on Barack Obama bringing us through this financial crises. Some of the lunatic left have hailed the president-elect as “America’s Messiah.” In John’s day, Tiberius Caesar was the successor to Augustus Caesar who reigned when Jesus was born and had been universally acclaimed the Roman Empire’s “savior” because the latter brought peace and stability to an empire that had been racked with calamitous internal strife until Augustus put down an rivals and forcefully assumed power. But Augustus and his hand picked successor, Tiberius, were good for the rich and powerful and did nothing to liberate the Jews from political bondage. So these “politicians” were no “saviors,” they were just the latest examples of rulers whose might overwhelmed the human spirit. They were in stark contrast to the baby Jesus who in Tiberius’ reign had become the humble carpenter of Nazareth, who would later say: “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart.” (Matt. 11 :28,29).
Other comparisons between our day and John’s day are (1) the Qumran community which was located in the same vicinity as where John preached and baptized (and with whom John may have spent some time in his more formative years), and the modern Pentecostal movement as well as other conservative evangelical groups. Both have pointed to an imminent appearance of the World’s Messiah, (in the case of Pentecostals, His second coming), both groups have proclaimed the restoration of Israel with the Pentecostals expecting Israel to be converted to Christ, and both groups have preached about a final apocalyptic showdown between the coming Messiah and the last evil world emperor (i.e. the Anti-Christ). Regardless of what your position is on the “End Times,” it is not hard to conclude that things are really heating up and that we may be moving into an unprecedented crises in world affairs that could be setting the stage for the second coming of Christ. As the Baptist said the ax is ready to fall (Luke 3:9). Therefore, we need to heed John (who reminds us of another “Baptist, “Billy Graham), who called for personal self-examination, repentance, and doing good (see Micah 6:8). We can begin this Christmas season by not succumbing to the frenzied activities of the crowds which are literally stomping over people in their maniacal drive to get the best bargains and have their “Last Hurrah” before the ax falls. Let us be about the master’s business and “occupying till He comes.” Maranatha Lord Jesus. (Rev. 22:20)
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