Bless his heart, John the Baptist was an odd duck from the get-go. Born to elderly parents who were way past the baby stage, he came onto the scene after an angel silenced his father for his disbelief. The angel foretold of John’s birth and gave specific instructions to Zechariah as to how he and Elizabeth were to raise this very special child. Having long given up hope of ever being parents, they faithfully obeyed exactly what they’d been told now that they’d finally received this immense but delayed answer to their years of prayers.

The Bible gives us a good look at our odd friend John. He eventually left village life for the solitude of the desert, dressed in clothing made from camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist. Surely he missed his mother’s cooking as he survived on a diet of locusts and raw honey.

Personality-wise, John was bold – and rightfully so because the Word says that he was filled with the Holy Spirit. He began to preach a message of repentance for the forgiveness of sins and to announce the coming of One greater than he. John was the messenger God had promised who would “prepare the way for the Lord.” (Mark 1:3b)

He primed the pump for the arrival of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He was the mouthpiece of the Spirit of God, convicting tender hearts of their sin, making them desperate for salvation – which Jesus would soon bring to them. While many responded to John’s preaching with confession, repentance, and baptism, the proud and arrogant who were offended by his straight talk against their sin despised him. But truth burned in his bones, and he refused to be silenced. He only grew bolder, and the crowds that were drawn to his preaching grew larger.

John’s preaching was so powerful that many began to wonder if he himself were the Messiah they’d all been longing for. While he continued to foretell the arrival of the coming Savior, he adamantly denied that he was the One. He told them, “I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’” (John 1:23b)

His sole ambition was to point others to “the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29b) And when the Lamb of God showed up, many of John’s followers left him and began to follow Jesus. Those expecting his response to be full of jealousy and envy were sorely disappointed. He instead responded, “The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.” (John 3:29-30)

Our beloved odd duck John has some big lessons for us today. He embraced his purpose and position with joy and humility. Do we? He knew his giftings and poured himself into living them out for the spread of the knowledge of God. Do we? He knew Who the Savior was, and he was devoted to that Savior’s truth – at the expense of his life. Is our loyalty to Jesus and His Word as strong as John’s?

May we aspire to be just as odd as John was. May we be humble and full of joy as we live out our purpose. May we devote ourselves to using our God-given talents for His glory and for the expansion of His kingdom. May we embrace our First Love each and every moment of our lives, cling to His truth until our very last breaths, and share the gospel at every opportunity. John proclaimed the coming of the Lamb of God. We proclaim the coming of the Lion of the tribe of Judah.