Prompt: If you could spend a day with John the Baptist, what questions would you ask him?
In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”
Matthew 3:1-3
I spent a lot of time learning much about John the Baptist that I did not know. He was also known as John the Forerunner, the one who would come before Christ to prepare the way for his arrival.
If I were able to spend a day with John the Baptist, I would ask several questions about his life, the 30 years he spent in the desert, and how it felt to finally meet the one he had been preparing the way for.
I can imagine him by the Jordan River, the wind blowing his long hair over his face, his camel-hair clothing and leather belt telling you that this is a man who is not about living for luxury or for things. While taking time away from baptizing the people, I would have a chance to sit with him on some rocks and ask him my questions.
My first question: Before you were born, John, it is said that God had a purpose for you. Your parents were older and unable to have children, but God sent an angel to tell them that they would have a son and their child would be filled with the Holy Spirit and would prepare the way for the Lord. It is said that when Mary visited Elizabeth, your mom, that you leaped in the womb — as if you recognized Jesus before either of you were born.
Did you indeed know, at even a young age, the role you would play in making the way for the coming of Jesus?
My second question: John, you grew up in the wilderness, without your father who was murdered so that your mom and you could escape. Your mom died with you by her side a short time later leaving you to alone circumvent your life and path to your destiny to prepare the way. It is said you were aided and guided by the angels during your 30 years in the desert until you emerged covered in your camel hair clothing.
Can you tell me about those decades in the desert? How did the angels prepare you to prepare the way for Jesus?
My final question:How do I prepare myself for Jesus?
While I have no real idea what the answers to the first two questions would be, I think John’s answer to my final question would probably be simple:
Start with repentance. Not a heavy, guilt-filled kind of repentance, but a turning of the heart. A clearing out of the things that distract me. Returning to Jesus again and again.
“Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!”
— Matthew 3:2
John’s life reminds me that Advent isn’t just about looking forward, it’s about looking inside yourself.
It’s about making space for the answers you need to hear.
It’s about awakening to the truths of the words spoken by Jesus.
It’s about remembering that Jesus is near, not just on Christmas Day but every day.
During Advent, I don’t want to rush past that. I want to prepare the way inside my own heart, even if it’s one small step at a time.
