Note, his specific calling was unique—there will never be another John the Baptist. There never was one before him, and there never will be one after him.
On the other hand, his calling is one that we’re all given, John got it—do you get who you are? Your role, your job, is to make much of Christ in your contexts.
Following the Lord Jesus means sometimes stepping on people’s toes. It certainly felt that way with John the Baptist. He had no right to baptise, according to them—and yet he did it. You might think, “Well, if I commit to church, if I hold my head up for Jesus, people will think, ‘You have no right to do that. You’re not one of those religious types. Who are you to turn up at church? Who are you to claim to be a Christian? Who are you to claim to be holy? You’re a bad person.’”
John had no such scruples. He knew what was right. He did it. There’s no better thing for you to do than to follow the Lord Jesus, so do it. Then look to the Lord Jesus. Be aware that he is one who you may not know. But there’s no one more significant than the Lord Jesus, so get to know him.
He’s not only the one that comes at the end, but he brings about the end—and right now he’s at the control centre of the universe. Your greatness can be found in seeing him, focusing on him. Sometimes we can be so tied up with who other people are—for the Pharisees it was “Who’s John?” For us, it may be, “Who’s the best YouTuber? The best author? The best TikToker? The most significant person in my life?”
No, focus on Jesus. Make sure you’re not among the ones who reject Jesus. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and yet the world did not know him. He came to His own, and his own people did not receive Him. He was rejected by a world that he created, rejected by the people who existed because of him, and all for his church.
We must make much of Christ.
