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John the Baptist played a crucial role in the ministry of Jesus. He was a forerunner, a herald, one who went before and prepared the way for the ministry of Jesus. He fulfilled Old Testament prophecies. He was a messenger, a voice crying in the wilderness, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord.”
John knew he had a purpose, and he was used by God to fulfill that purpose. The prophecy in Isaiah 40 talks about comfort—the comfort that Jesus would bring and the pardon for our sin; that our warfare would be ended because Jesus won the victory.
We too have the opportunity to be heralds and forerunners, to tell people that Jesus is coming back. We do not know when He will return, but we should be living as if it would be tomorrow. What would we do differently if we knew He was coming back tomorrow? Are we excited about His return?
John’s purpose was obvious: to prepare the way for Jesus. Each one of us is also created for a purpose. God had a plan for us even before we were born. Do our plans match up with what God has planned for us? Does our claim that we trust Jesus match up with what we say and do?
We have a message to tell, and that is the message of Christ’s life, ministry, death, and resurrection. We can both speak this message to those around us and also live this message.