John 1:6

“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.”

          After talking about the God man, Jesus, a second man is introduced. Who is this man? He is the man simply described in his introduction as a man sent from God. John the Baptist—not to be confused with John the writer of the gospel—is the cousin of Jesus. John the Baptist’s birth is described in Luke 1:5-25 before Luke describes the birth of Jesus. This sets up the role of John the Baptist as the one who comes before Jesus and, as we will find out later, to proclaim that Jesus is coming. In this verse, though, the focus that John, the author of the gospel, emphasizes is that John the Baptist is sent from God. As already mentioned, his birth is described in Luke, but what was not mentioned is that his birth was a miracle that was foretold by an angel. He was born to infertile parents that were way above the age of giving birth to children. Luke makes mention how Elizabeth and Zachariah, the parents of John the Baptist, “both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.” (Luke 1:6). This was pointed out to show that there was no sin in their life causing them to not be able to bare children but so the will of God might be fulfilled. In the same way in this verse, John’s first mention of John the Baptist is to say that He was sent from God.

          The story of God is how different He is from our ideas of God in our own minds and what we can invent in our heads. He does not rely on the chance of a baby being born to use what is available. Instead, God provides the man with the specific purpose for what He wants Him to do. How many times in our own lives do we think “this is the last time I can screw up, God is not going to be able to use me?” We think that we must be doing something wrong that is disabling us from progressing when this might be a part of God’s plan. Does this mean that we should stay where we are? As Paul would say, “MAY IT NEVER BE!” But to think we have the power to change God’s plan is childish thinking. The God who provides his own prophets and kings, and the God who by Himself provided our way of escaping slavery in sin will not let us continue. He will redeem us and continue to grow us. We just need to abide in Him and remember sometimes we are in a time of preparation for His purpose. We might not be John the Baptist or his parents, but we are all being used by God for His purpose, and if we are in Him, and Christians, then the promise is that He is also working all things for our good for those who are called according to his purpose (Rom. 8:28). We must continue to abide in Him and marvel at what He will do, listen to Him in His word and talk to Him through prayer.

          If you do not know Him, know that He is calling you today. Please do not resist the call as the will of God is not something that can be resisted for long as we see with John. His purpose through people is to proclaim Jesus. He is proclaiming Him to you right now. Please heed the call to Him so He might use you for His purpose and your good.