A Unique Mission

Matthew 3-4

When I think of John the Baptist, the way Jesus refers to Him in Chapter 11 is typically what comes to mind. Jesus said "I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist..." Today, however, I noticed something different. At the beginning of Matthew's gospel account, he describes John's mission in the desert to prepare the way of the Lord. John finished that work when he baptized Jesus. Then Jesus went into the desert for 40 days. When Jesus comes out, we read the following... "When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee."

Once the calling that God had placed on John's life was complete, John was finished. John left so that the one who was greater than he, would have all the glory. It may not have been John's choice to leave... it may not have been the way John wanted to leave... but John knew all along that he had not come for glory, but to point to glory incarnate. In completing his one-of-a-kind mission, John showed us the way, then got out of the way.

Too often, we want to stick around after having completed our part to get some of the reflected glory. I recall the scene from Field of Dreams when Ray Kinsella has brought Terence Mann to his home. Terence is invited by the ball players return to the cornfield with them and Ray who has prepared the way wants to go to, but Shoeless Joe admonishes him by saying that he isn't invited. OK, that is probably a stretch, but the point is that sometimes we don't realize that the part that God has ordained for us is a bit part, yet vitally important to the end goal. When God calls, will we accept our part?