An unlikely prophet

John was the man the prophet Isaiah was talking about when he said,
‘Someone is shouting in the desert,
“Prepare a road for the Lord;
make a straight path for him to travel!”‘

John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair; he wore a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. People came to him from Jerusalem, from the whole province of Judea, and from all over the country near the Jordan River. They confessed their sins, and he baptised them in the Jordan. (verses 3-6)

Read Matthew 3:1-12

John the Baptist was certainly unusual. He lived the life of a hermit in the desert of Judea, wore animal skins for clothing and survived by eating locusts and wild honey.

He was an unlikely prophet, but he had a powerful message. He preached about the coming of the kingdom of heaven and warned people to repent of their sins and get ready for the coming Messiah.

His message was so powerful that soon people came from near and far to hear him, and many did repent and were baptised. He was also not afraid to tell the Jewish leaders who came to him to repent too.

God used an unlikely man to be the last of the prophets, and this unlikely man preached with power and courage. Many people became his followers, but he pointed them to Jesus, saying he was not good enough even to carry Jesus’ sandals.

God uses unlikely people to do great things for him. He can use you too.

You know all things, dear Lord, and you use unlikely people to do great things for you. If it is your will, use me too. Amen.

By Grace Bock, in “Refreshment for each day” (LCA, Openbook Publishers (2003)

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