Mt 3:13,14 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"

I have a feeling that John the Baptist would have been an uncomfortable person to be with – prophets, especially Old Testament prophets, often were, but then as John's Gospel blandly says, “There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John.” (Jn 1:6), Yes, he was sent by God and he came with a purpose, and that purpose involved him meeting his cousin, Jesus, publicly and proclaiming him.

His birth had had a supernatural touch about it, because of his parents we read, “they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.” (Lk 1:7) but that was going to change, as announced by the angel Gabriel: “the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.” (Lk 1:13). His birth would cause much rejoicing (Lk 1:14, fulfilled in 1:58), he would be holy (Lk 1:15) and he would be a prophet like Elijah (Lk 1:17). Oh yes, there was definitely something about John that set him apart from all other men.

His role was to bear witness to the light, which was Jesus: “He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe.” (Jn 1:7) to prepare people to believe in Jesus: “Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord ….. to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Lk 1:16,17). Now what is interesting is that he was clearly aware of a lot about Jesus, but not everything. For example: “You yourselves can testify that I said, `I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.' ……He must become greater; I must become less. The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all.” (Jn 3:28 ,30,31) and yet, as our verses for today show, although he was exercising his ministry of baptizing people, he didn't realise that that had to include Jesus.

It is clear therefore, that these two cousins, although closely linked in God's purposes had not talked about the details of what would happen – and that is encouraging! I say that because there is, in some circles, an assumption almost that God will share everything with His children – He doesn't! We are called to a life of faith (2 Cor 5:7) which sometimes means we just have to get on with what God has given us to do, WITHOUT full knowledge of the details of what will happen and how it will work out.

This truth is personified in John because after he had baptized Jesus he just carried on with his ministry. He obviously felt that he was to carry on until told otherwise by God. It was only Herod's intervention that stopped him: “when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and all the other evil things he had done, Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.” (Lk 3:19,20) Yet that didn't stop John continuing his ministry of pointing people to Jesus for we read later, “After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee . When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Mt 11:1-3). Was this John having doubts in prison? It was more likely his way of sending his own disciples to Jesus as he recognised that his time had come to an end.

John is an amazing example for us. He was the cousin of Jesus but his sole task is to obey what God has said to him and point people to Jesus and to prepare them to receive him. It was a ministry without glory, for it was left to Jesus to give him the honour due to him that others hadn't recognised: “Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John : "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings' palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.” (Mt 11:7-9) and then added, “I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist.” (Mt 11:11). No, John understood this and had declared in respect of himself and Jesus, “He must become greater; I must become less.” (Jn 3:30) John didn't seek any glory. Indeed, to the contrary, he gave it all to Jesus and made less of himself. What a challenge to modern ministries!

John prepared people's hearts to receive Jesus, by making them realise that they fell short and needed to come to God in repentance. When they had done that, they were ready to meet Jesus. At that time he was a physical Saviour, not a risen Saviour. For the moment he brought God's words of love and acceptance, and God's power brought love through healing. Later he would bring salvation and Sonship but John never saw that. John simply did what God gave him to do, and carried on doing it until stopped. What an example!