John the Baptist

Do you know how hard it is to find a pinata?

Wal-Mart doesn't have them - and after Wal-Mart I really can't think of anyplace to buy one. Where do you get something like this?

The reason I need a pinata is to demonstrate how 1st and 2nd graders give such good directions to their blindfolded friends, particularly when candy is involved. I have been at several birthday parties (I have three young children) and the very Mexican pastime of shattering a pinata has become a very American tradition.

This is how it goes: a little boy (who may or may not be able to tie his shoes) is given a large wooden pole, perhaps a handle from a shovel or such. He is then told that if he breaks the paper covered donkey, lots of candy will rain from the sky. All the children gathered to watch will then become 'best friends' and assume the duty of helping the little boy eat all of his prize. The only catch is that he must do this blindolded.

Well! Even without a blindfold the prospect of a seven year old spinning in circles with a head-knocker is not so inviting! Nevertheless, the young man has his eyes covered, and away he goes, swinging mercilessly away at the air to the amusement of all attending and the blank stair of one doomed paper donkey. All the while it is the other children's job to shout, "Left!" or "Right!" or "Over this way!-or that way!" or some other directional stuff that only serves to confuse the child with the weapon. This shouting and noise does not require any adult prodding or encouragement, it is an instinct that is woven into the dNA of little children from birth.

So the point of this illustration is this: John the Baptist, unlike the screaming children who try to point out directions by mass chaotic shouting, was a clear voice giving clear directions about the coming Messiah:

"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
Matthew 3:11-12

When it came to giving clear directions to the people waking in darkness ,John the Baptist was clear and exact. His precision prophecies cut to the heart of the people, calling them to repent, turn from their sins, and make straight paths for the Lord.

Searching for information about John the Baptist has been interesting to say the least. John is the character we will be reviewing this Sunday in Middle School Bible Study, and finding material about this important man has not come from one source (does anyone have a good book about John the Baptist?) but from lots of different sources. Here are the facts that I have collected so far:

• John was just a few months older than Jesus
• John lived his adult life in the wilderness, eating bugs and food made by bugs (locust, honey, etc.)
• John identified himself as an agent of God. He did this by wearing the garments of old testament prophets - a camel hair coat and leather belt.
• John spoke of repentance until the arrival of Jesus. Then he spoke of the lamb (Jesus.)
• Johns life accumulates almost no glory for itself, instead, like a arrow on a road sign, pointed completely to Jesus.
• John was eccentric, and drew crowds to where he was, down by the Jordan River.
• John was a relative of Jesus, but the exact kinship I have not found in the Bible. Is it there?

In all of this, our Bible Study gives us three goals for Sunday - each student should be able to:

• Describe the importance and meaning of John’s prophetic ministry and the life-changing repentance required of those who join the Kingdom of God.
• Experience personal repentance from sin.
• Select one way to lead a visibly Christian life that points others toward Christ.

So the theme for John's life, as we will be approaching it is: 1.) the message and experience of repentance, and 2.) the visibly Christian life.