“This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, ‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”’ Matthew 3:3
John the Baptist was the forerunner to the Messiah. His whole mission was ultimately to point to the Christ by his mission of words and actions. Some of what John said could be construed as mean in our ‘woke’ world today. But, if eyes aren’t opened to errors and sins, who is culpable? I’m not responsible for your sins but if I see them and say nothing…where is the mercy?
“He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’” Luke 1:16-17
John had a lot of side missions so to speak but his main mission is to point to Jesus as seen in John 1:29 – “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” “And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.’” John 1:34
John’s mission is so critical that it is pointed out in all four Gospels.
We may not be the Baptizer, going forth ‘with the spirit and power of Elijah.” But, our mission is the same as John’s in so many ways. We too are forerunners of Jesus. Yes, He has already come but He will come again. We are to insure the whole world knows this fact. And, is ready.
John professed a baptism of repentance that opens the doorway to the baptism of the Holy Spirit brought by Jesus. By our professing of God’s Divine Mercy, we bring reality and truth to both of these baptisms for those around us. Repentance begets Mercy. Mercy bring knowledge of Jesus. Jesus brings the fire of the Holy Spirit.
We have the same mission as John the Baptist. To speak of Jesus, prepare hearts to meet Him and to speak the truth, even if it gets us condemned by the world. You don’t need to stand waist deep in water to point to Jesus and declare, “behold! The Lamb of God!”