John the Baptist often shows up during Advent. As we prepare for the coming of Christ. Here we read of the end of his life. I can almost close my eyes and hear the song, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord.” When I think of John the Baptist, the voice in the wilderness making the paths straight.

Let us take a quick review of John the Baptist life. We know his parents, also we hear of them at Christmas time. His parents are Elizabeth and Zachariah. Up in age and surprised by the birth. God does things like that. Uses us for great things in old age. His father was struck dumb for a bit for doubting. He came out of that with something beautiful to say. His mother was related to Mary and even in utero he leapt for joy at the presence of Jesus also in utero.

His mother blessed Mary with words that are used in every Roman Catholic tongue today.

So, John was born and no wine touched his lips. He dressed quite humbly. Not paying attention to all that stuff. He was driven. He wanted to right wrongs. He wanted us to shape up and act right. He wanted us to fess up. I know we were not there. All this us stuff. Yet his message is timeless.

He baptized Jesus. And how humbling that must have been. He said he is not worthy so much as to tie his shoe laces.

Then many come to John to be baptized. And repent. And as he said, “He shall increase, I shall decrease.” I baptize with water, he baptizes with the Holy spirit and fire.

Then as Jesus ministry continues. John speaks to truth to power and is rewarded with prison. He questions if Jesus is the one, or is someone else coming. He is in prison. It is not looking like the kingdom is coming on earth as in heaven. He is ready and will fight if need be, but he wants to make sure Jesus is the one he has been proclaiming will come.

Jesus answers with blind see, deaf hear, lame walk, skin diseases are cleansed, and the poor have good news, hope and love …. Then he says something that I ponder often.

A scripture that has stayed with me for many years, is the contrast Jesus makes with John the Baptist and himself and the way neither is enough to please some people.
16 “But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, 17 and saying:
‘We played the flute for you,
And you did not dance;
We mourned to you,
And you did not lament.’
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.” Matthew 11
You’re condemned if you do, you’re condemned if you don’t. I cleaned that up for pulpit use.
There are different ways of doing spirituality. There are different personalities. John never touched the stuff. A teetotaler. He also never ate rich food. He was on a mission and discipline was his whole life. So were to naysayers impressed? No, they said he had a demon.

Jesus on the other hand was the life of the party, making water into wine, eating and drinking and provided more food out of nothing. He was called a drunkard and a glutton. We show pictures of Jesus emaciated on the cross. Yes, he fasted for 40 days, then he spent 3 years going to dinner parties, creating meals, drinking and dancing.

I had two friends. They were close friends. They served the same church at different times. One was so disciplined. When we said, “You are wise.” He would retort, no I am just very disciplined. He never drank wine, Never smoked. He never even drank coffee. He ate very little. He was a vegan. He backpacked and snow shoed and the list goes on. He taught theology to all who wanted to study with him. He had a quiet charisma. People from all around gravitated to him for spiritual directions. When I was a young person about to be interviewed for ordination I told a group of people, “A man in my church said he just wants to come to church and feel good.” He turned to me and said, “Jo, that is not your job. That is the job of a masseuse.”

Then there was our other friend. He is still the one I call if I am traveling to a city he has traveled to ask what is the best restaurant in town. Any town he has entered, he knows the best food. They call that a “foodie” these days. He liked comfort. He liked to have great conversations over great wine. He knew the best wines as well. He was the life of the party.

They were not wrong. They came at spirituality very differently.

John the Baptist was intense and always up for challenging others. Jesus was welcoming strange people and sitting down and talking to them.

Remember what Micah told us the Lord requires? It is a good scripture to memorize. What does the Lord require? To do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God.” Micah 6:8
Do justice, — right wrongs. Love mercy. Love it. Mercy is a word about being guilty and being forgiven. Walk humbly with God because we do not know when to let someone off the hook and when to hold someone accountable.

Walk humbly. Richard Rohr, a famous priest/ who lives in Albuquerque, NM said he prays for one humiliation a day to keep him humble. I am not that religious! I do not want or welcome humiliation. I do understand his intent. For pride has a way of slipping in even to our good intentions, our spiritual disciplines. If we are on the attack toward people who are not being as spiritual as us in doing good, then we may just be missing the boat. I played the flute for you and you did not dance. Joy, is a true sign of the fruit of the spirit.

There are other times we are called to a serious tone. To hear the pain of others. We sang a dirge and you did not mourn. John the Baptist and Jesus have something to teach us in very different ways.

We read today the end of John the Baptist life. Living for God does not guarantee ease or safety. He died because he spoke the truth to power.

Jesus said, no one born of a woman (and that is every person who has lived, is living or will someday exist) is greater ….
Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Matthew 11:11