He may be an eccentric, camel hair wearing, locust and honey eating preacher standing in the wilderness, but John the Baptist is the key figure of Advent. He is the voice who draws attention to the anticipated Messiah. Everything he does lays the groundwork and prepares the way for the Coming One.
That is his testimony.
What’s not his testimony is who he is.
As a kid I remember watching the famous Phil Hartman sketch on Saturday Night Live titled “Caveman Lawyer.”
(Stick with me here.)
Made up to look like a caveman with an enormous forehead and frizzed out hair, Hartman graced the courtroom wearing an expensive suit while spouting out legal mumbo jumbo that wowed the jury. His famous line was “I’m just a caveman” which was his sly attempt to fabricate ignorance. And yet, this false humility successfully shined the spotlight on himself.
It should come as no surprise that John the Baptist’s approach was entirely different. Of course, he didn’t say things like, “I’m just a wilderness man…”
But more than that, his humility was never false. The spotlight was always pointed to the One who came after.
We know who John is because the gospel writers paint his picture with all the interesting details. But his image was not his brand and he was not into self promotion.
He was more about who he is not.
In the first chapter of the gospel of John, we are introduced to the Baptist as the one who is NOT the light. When questioned by the religious leaders about who he was, he makes a point to tell them he was NOT Elijah, that he was NOT the prophet, and that he was NOT worthy to untie the sandal of the One coming after him.
The only thing he says about himself is when he quotes the Isaiah 40 prophecy,
“I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” - John 1:23
Even here, he’s the mouthpiece of a word that wasn’t even originally his.
It shouldn’t surprise us that Jesus walks a similar way. Time and time again, Jesus points to his Father as the one who sent him—as the one he obeys and whose will he follows.
Do you see a pattern?
The main character of Advent reminds us that the characters in God’s kingdom don’t seek promotion. They don’t seek congratulations or the spotlight. They point to the light.
The main characters of Advent possess a spirit of deference that is waiting to be emulated. It’s the spirit of Mary that rejoices in God her Savior as she magnifies the Lord and not herself. It’s the spirit of Joseph that awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took Mary as his wife.
Will you, like them — like Jesus, follow John’s lead?
Will your testimony be one of deference, stepping into the darkness to make way for the light to come?
Advent is a season of waiting in the dark. Not only do we testify to the Light that is coming, but we also discover the joy of standing in the shadows.
There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. - John 1:6-8
“The main character of Advent reminds us that the characters in God’s kingdom don’t seek promotion. They don’t seek congratulations or the spotlight. They point to the light.”
THIS👆🏼👆🏼👆🏼👆🏼