John the Baptist is a STUD

By: Guest Writer

We can all agree that one of the most hardcore people in Scripture is John the Baptist - he lived in the wilderness, ate locust and wild honey, wore camel hair, and was strong in spirit. He was prophesied about and was destined for greatness. He is a stud, and what makes John the Baptist a STUD is that he was a Servant Leader, Truthful, Unbelievable, and Determined.
Servant Leader
“And he preached, saying, ‘After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” - Mark 1:7-8

Servant Leadership is about empowerment, humility, and desiring the best for everyone you encounter. That is exactly how John the Baptist lived, especially toward Jesus. John knew his place in this world, he knew that there was Someone greater than him, and he wanted to make sure that everyone knew that. John led everyone with his preaching of repentance, but it is at this moment that he made it known the purpose of repentance. He wanted to empower everyone to repent, to be the best they could be, and to know humbly who Jesus was. John was such a great leader that two of his disciples left him to follow Jesus, the Messiah, the Christ, the “one mightier” than John.

Truthful
“John said therefore to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits that befit repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.’” -Luke 3:7-9 John the Baptist was a man that was convicted of the truth and he wasn’t afraid to share it. He knew that truth would bear good fruit so he made sure to live it and live it in a way that everyone knew. Not only did he remind the multitudes of this truth, he told them to always do the right thing by “sharing with those who have none” and to always be looking to help those in need. John’s mission and purpose in life were to prepare the way for the Lord. He is a truthful man because he did exactly that, and he did everything in his power to make Jesus known. “Jesus went away again across the Jordan to the place where John at first baptized, and there he remained. And many came to him; and they said, ‘John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.’ And many believed in Jesus there.” - John 10:40-42. So many people came to believe because of the truth that John spoke to the multitudes.
Unbelievable
“For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he was much perplexed; and yet he heard him gladly... And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, ‘I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.’ And the king was exceedingly sorry; but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her.” - Mark 6: 20, 25-26
John’s existence was literally unbelievable. He was born to a woman (Elizabeth) who was called barren. He was a miracle from the start of his life in the womb. He was the one that prophets spoke about to prepare everyone for Christ to come. What makes John’s life even more unbelievable is his death. King Herod is responsible for murdering thousands of infants in order to rid of baby Jesus, yet it was at the end of John the Baptist’s life that King Herod was pierced in the Heart with John’s righteousness and holiness. Herod was sad and sorry to have had John beheaded. John’s death shows how unbelievable his life was.

Determined
“Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, ‘Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?’ And Jesus answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is he who takes no offense at me.” - Matthew 11:2-6
John knew his mission in life. When he was in Elizabeth’s womb he leaped with joy when in the presence of Jesus in the womb of Mary. John’s entire existence was to make Jesus known, and he wouldn’t stop until that happened. So much so that when he was literally in prison, he sent his disciples to confirm that Jesus was the Messiah. John was determined to not stop until it was known that Christ had come. John the Baptist was a servant leader, truthful, unbelievable, and determined. He knew his purpose and mission in life, and he wasn’t going to stop until it was fulfilled. John was rough around the edges, convicted, holy, and righteous. He was a man of virtue and his example purposes the questions: What is
your mission? What is your purpose? What virtues do you need to work on to be the best version of yourself? Take time to reflect on John the Baptist or another Saint that can be an example to your life, journal about these areas of your life, and live the mission that God has planned for you. John the Baptist did it, you can too.
What a STUD.
John the Baptist, Pray for us!