Crazy is the New Great | Jamie Wamsley

In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” …John’s clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey. Matthew 3:1-2,4. 

After reading this scripture, we may picture John the Baptist as a street preacher holding a megaphone and yelling at people to repent. When we imagine John this way, then Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:11a, “I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist,” can feel hard to understand and borderline disturbing. Why did Jesus say this? What are we missing? 

Unlike the corner preachers of our day that people largely want to avoid and keep away from, something about John drew people in. His message of repentance was rooted in invitation, not condemnation. When we understand the culture he lived in, we see that his lifestyle wasn’t as extreme as it appears in our modern context. So why did Jesus think John the Baptist was so amazing? Three things about John set him apart: calling, sacrifice, and humility. John knew and lived fully in his calling. He knew that in order to take hold of the calling on his life, it required sacrificing comfort and convenience. And lastly, John understood that the things he did for God weren’t to gain praise or followers; they were to point people to Jesus. If you are a follower of Jesus, you have a calling on your life to bring the goodness of God’s kingdom into your unique spheres of influence. And like John, when you embrace your calling, are willing to sacrifice everything for God, and walk every day in humility, God will lead you to a life greater than anything you can ever imagine.