On the world news stage - this past Monday, Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas met in Jericho.  It was the first time an Israeli official had met his Palestinian counterpart in Palestinian territory since 2000.  Of course, Abbas was eager to get things started on drafting boundaries for a Palestinian State, or beginning negotiations for the dividing of Jerusalem (I just can not ever see that happening), and of emptying out of Jewish settlements in both Samaria and Judea (the West Bank).  To his credit, and I was somewhat amazed by his response - sort of out of character with Olmert's attitudes in the past - the Prime Minister said that he wanted to proceed slowly so that it could be shown whether Abbas could control his people with a sense of peace.  Today we learned that $16 million of money that the United States and Israel had given to Abbas and the Palestinian Authority had gone into the hands of Hamas extremists in Gaza.  Most have blamed the new Palestinian Authority Finance Minister who has sympathies with Hamas.  One can only begin to wonder what both the United States and Israel's response will be with the remainder of the money that has been promised to Abbas.  Friends, historically this is the record of agreements reached between Israel and the Palestinians in the past.  They sign peace accords or agreements stating that they will do such and such...but, the ink is hardly dry when they do exactly the opposite.  Yet, Israel keeps trying and the world keeps condemning them for not acceding to the Palestinians' every wish. 

The financial markets keep responding as would a yo-yo.  In recent weeks I have visited with several men who are greatly involved in financial institutions here in the Twin Cities.  They have been less than encouraging.  Again, could this be a sign of the return of our Lord.  I am glad that my security is found in Him and not in financial instruments. 

Well, let's get into the Word.  We are now at another important portion of those opening verses of the Gospel of John.  In verses 6-8 we are introduced to John the Baptist, about whom John will discuss more later in this chapter.  But I thought it would be helpful if we could review what we know about this most unusual man.

First, John had an unique birth announcement.  You will find this recorded in the first chapter of Luke.  His birth is among a handful, recorded in the Bible, of those announced by angelic beings.  Others include Isaac, Jacob and Esau, and Samson.  Second, if traditions are correct, then John and Jesus were cousins.  Luke tells us that Elizabeth and Mary were relatives - many feel they were cousins.  That would make John and Jesus second cousins.  Third, John lived in a very unique place - the wilderness.  Again, traditions tell us that John probably had some contact with one of the Essenic communities that dotted the landscapes along the shores of the Dead Sea and the Wilderness of Judea.  It was a harsh place in which to live.  Fourthly, John certainly dressed differently.  Matthew tells us that his clothing was made of camel's skins.  Chuck Swindoll, the master of description, says this of John the Baptist: "He was neither Pharisee nor Sadducee nor priest nor Levite nor scribe.  He didn't look like a prophet, didn't sound like a priest, and didn't smell like a saint." 

John accomplished two significant things in his lifetime.  First, he dared to defy a great king (Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great) and tell him he was wrong to divorce his own wife and steal the wife of his brother, Philip.  You remember the story of how Herodias' daughter danced before Herod and he promised her whatever she wished.  And Herodias told her to ask for John the Baptist's head...which was sadly done.  John the Baptist reminds us that it is not often easy to take a stand against the immoral practices of this world and to even dare to take a stand against the practices of a wrongful government.  May we have the courage and boldness of John.  Second, he boldly witnessed for Jesus Christ.  And his message was simply this: the light was here.  Now, let me ask you this question: who needs to be told that the sun is shining?  And you will say, "It is rather obvious.  Only those who are blind need to be told the sun is shining."  And you would be correct.  The people of John's day were so content in their darkness that they did not recognize the very presence of the light of God in their midst. 

I ask myself this question: What would happen today if Jesus were to come and walk down the streets of Albertville, Minnesota?  What would happen if Jesus were to come and walk down the streets of your community?  Would people recognize Jesus as God's Son?  Would they see Him as the light sent from God?  Or would God need to send another John the Baptist to proclaim to us that Jesus was God's Son?  Then, I am reminded of those words from Jesus, recorded in His Sermon on the Mount - "You are the lights of the world!"  And then I wonder if the people I meet in the local post office, at the auto repair shop, in the grocery store can see Jesus Christ in my life?  I am to be like a "John the Baptist" to them.  I often wonder how I am doing?

I wondered why the Apostle John interjected these thoughts about John the Baptist into this critical section where his purpose is to introduce us to the deity of Christ.  Let me just share with you a thought.  What was the purpose for the coming of Jesus into the world?  It was to point people to God.  And what was the purpose for the coming of John the Baptist?  It was to point people to the One who would point them to God.  In essence, as we shall see in a couple of weeks, John the Baptist is the first to recognize the character of Jesus and His purpose in coming.  Thus, it was important for the Apostle John, as he takes pen in hand, to introduce us to the one who pointed us toward the Light.  More of that concept of "light" next week.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: No man really becomes a fool until he stops asking questions.  (Charles P. Steinmetz)