Mark 1:1-8
PECULIAR AND STRANGE, YET HUMBLE
After reading the passage, Mark 1:6, I might guess that most people agree John the Baptist appears to be a bit odd. If you compare him to someone currently living in Tampa, you might describe him as a loner or hermit or that reclusive neighbor who lives in the dilapidated house down the street with all the overgrown shrubs and weeds.
We read in this passage that John wore clothes made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. What???? I don’t know about you, but as a westerner, I’ve never tasted locusts. Perhaps if they were dried and dipped in honey, I might consider trying one. But enough about eating locusts; this isn’t a food blog.
I think John’s clothes and his lifestyle of living in the desert are just two more examples of his humility. It is a great reminder to us all that God actually favors the unlikely, and he often works through people we are inclined to reject.
Like Jesus, John didn’t live in a king’s mansion; he lived in the desert or wilderness. John didn’t wear designer clothes and he didn’t eat gourmet food. Instead, John focused most on his purpose in life, not his possessions. I know that’s how Jesus wants us to live our lives, too.
Because we live in a culture that promotes consumerism, this is often difficult to achieve. While many of us have been blessed with abundance, let’s learn from John and remember to remain humble and live our lives “preparing the way” so that others may come to know Jesus.
–Tammy Snyder