Inside: John the Baptist held the greatest church commission ever given and he still engaged in civil government.

When it comes to Biblical characters, I really like John the Baptist.  He was a man who seemed to see things more clearly than most.  He didn’t seem to run into the confusion that affected others – at least not as bad.  I mean, even when we read about Jesus’ disciples, we see them frequently have questions about things we feel they really should know by now…  but John the Baptist didn’t seem to have that problem. 

John the Baptist’s Calling

Even before John the Baptist was born, he leaped in the womb when he and his mother encountered the Lord Jesus, still in the womb of the pregnant virgin, Mary.  Later, in Matthew chapter 3, we see Jesus present Himself to John the Baptist to be baptized.  Immediately, John recognizes the mismatch and he points out to the Lord that this is backwards and Jesus should be baptizing him.  So, John is the church official who literally commissions the earthly ministry of Jesus Himself – the very Head of the church.  Oh, and don’t forget that God the Father speaks from heaven, and the Holy Spirit descends like a dove upon Jesus (Matt 3:16-17).  Wow, what a baptism service!  No wonder John felt it was backwards that he would be doing that baptism!  Later, John sends his disciples to Jesus to confirm that He is the one they are looking for, but Jesus answers his question by showing how He is fulfilling prophecies, and this appears to answer any question John may have had. (Matt 11:3, Luke 7:19-20) 

John the baptist’s Mission

John the Baptist had a mission from the very beginning of his life.  Luke 1:15 tells us he was filled with The Holy Spirit even while in the womb.  Indeed, John the Baptist was commissioned for a unique duty.  What was that duty?  He was supposed to prepare the way of the Lord. (Luke 1:17, among several other references)  What an incredible mission!  No other man in human history has been entrusted with such a task.  Perhaps that is why Jesus confers upon John the Baptist a remarkable accolade.  In fact, right after Jesus answers John’s question we just mentioned, Jesus says in Matt 11:11, “Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist…”  John the Baptist was a remarkable man, and he had a remarkable, unique, and clearly defined mission. 

Engaging Civil Government

In the first few verses of Matthew 14, we learn even more about John the Baptist – we learn about the events surrounding his death.  It seems he had a relationship with Herod – the Roman government official.  It seems like Herod must have liked him, and certainly knew he was a man of God.  Unfortunately, Herod allowed his actions to be influenced by a woman – a woman he had no business messing with…  It says Herod had imprisoned John “for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife.” (Matt 14:3)  So what was the deal between John the Baptist and Herodias?  Well, apparently, she didn’t like him.  She didn’t like him because John the Baptist was giving Godly advice to Herod that he should leave her alone!  Matthew 14:4 says “For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.” 

I find Matthew 14:3-12 amazing.  Here we have a man, John the Baptist, who is one filled with the Spirit of God from his mother’s womb to take on a mission such as has never been charged to man before – or since.  He was the one to prepare the way of the Lord.  He was the church official tasked with the immense duty of kicking off Jesus’ earthly ministry literally by baptizing the Son of God Himself, at a baptism where all 3 parts of the Holy Trinity were noticeably present.  This man, John the Baptist, had also bravely taken a stand to tell the Roman civil government official that it was UNLAWFUL for him to take his brother’s wife.  Wow! 

Can’t Engage With Politicians

In today’s world, I think we can take much from the example of John the Baptist.  Many pastors today say they cannot get involved with the political leaders of our day because they have to focus on their earthly ministry of sharing the gospel.  I never want to take anything away from sharing the gospel, but it appears from the example of John the Baptist that the church of Jesus Christ is required to do both!  John had a mission to pave the way for the Lord Himself.  He was literally a fulfillment of prophecy that he would precede the coming Messiah.  And yet, in all of this, he did not turn a blind eye to the civil government official who sought to unlawfully take his brother’s wife.     

John’s job was to go before the Messiah – how easy it would have been to tell himself to focus on that clear calling and not get involved with such lowly, earthly matters.  Why call out Herod for evil?  Why lose your head over this thing?  Would it really make any difference if Herod took his brother’s wife?  Why not just continue to focus on the high calling he had received from God?

Church to Check civil government

John the Baptist (and the modern church in current world) is supposed to be a check on the operations of civil government…  We are supposed to tell them, “No, that’s wrong…”, “No, you don’t have jurisdiction there…”, “No, that is not lawful…”  That’s exactly what John the Baptist was doing with Herod.  Like the 80 priests who opposed King Uzziah (What King Uzziah Can Teach Us About Jurisdictions), the church is supposed to show the civil authorities the limits of their power.  After all, as we have discussed in several articles like “Should Christians be Involved with Civil Government?”, civil authorities are God’s agents on earth, literally His Deacons, wielding God’s authority on earth to restrain evil and to promote good. 

We do not have the luxury to claim some greater mission prohibits us from being salt and light to the officials of civil government.  John the Baptist held the greatest church commission ever given to a human and he took the time and opportunity to do it – we must do the same.