Lessons From John The Baptist

John the Baptist! Amongst my list of lessons from Bible characters, John the Baptist didn’t make the list (not that there’s nothing to learn from him, but when I was compiling the topics, he wasn’t in the scope of my thoughts then. But…) his name was dropped in my heart a couple of weeks ago when I was listening to a message of Apostle Joshua Selman (one of those short snippets on YouTube). I felt the Holy Spirit nudging me to write something about him. At the moment, I really have no idea what we’re to learn from him. Whatever you read from this point onwards is spontaneous. Nonetheless, I trust the Holy Spirit we’re going to learn something. Tighten your seatbelts brethren, we’re going on a trip!

Let’s start our lesson from what Apostle Joshua Selman said about him (I’ll be paraphrasing with few of my thoughts penned in brackets). He said, “Men might die and be forgotten, but systems remain. John the Baptist came in the Spirit and power of Elijah, he never really walked in the shoes of Elijah. Elijah was feared in his time except by one woman, Jezebel. She promised she was going to kill him (ref. 1 Kings 19). God was with Elijah and her plan was truncated. There was a reversal of the supposed action (you know our ‘back to sender’ thingy? Yeah, that kind of thing). Elijah was scared at first, but later, he understood the kind of anointing that was upon his head (what is fascinating about this story is that the Elijah that fled because of Jezebel’s threat was the same man standing fearlessly before her and her husband in 1 Kings 21 declaring God’s judgement upon them). Fast forward to John the Baptist in the New Testament, the angel sent to his father told him in Luke 1:1-17 that the son to be born to him will go in ‘the spirit and power of Elijah.’ We see with these few explanations that Elijah came back in the form of John the Baptist but there’s a plot twist! Guess who also returned? Jezebel! if you guessed she came back as Herod’s wife’s brother, Herodias, you’re on track. Herodias came back in the spirit and power of Jezebel. This time, Jezebel (through Herodias) was able to bring down Elijah (through John the Baptist). Both parties had died long ago in the Old Testament, but the system remained. Sadly, this time, Elijah was taken down.”

Nothing hurts me more about the story of John the Baptist than the fact that he just “died like that.” I believe coming in the spirit and power of Elijah is not something to be taken with levity. I guess John the Baptist knew because his parents must have educated him, but there’s every possibility he never understood the power and spirit Elijah walked in. He shouldn’t have died “just like that.” His remembrance was wiped out too soon. Just two to three things are mostly remembered of John the Baptist. The first is that he baptized Jesus, the second is he wore camel’s skin and ate strange meals, and the third is probably what led to his death- standing up against the King (Herod). Elijah did the same, and he even did more. He spoke against Ahab when his wife killed Naboth in order to get the poor man’s vineyard. Jezebel threatened Elijah and her life went for it. Herodias also sought to kill John the Baptist (Mark 6:19) and his head was brought to her in a charger.

I am a lover of stories and simultaneously a deep thinker, that’s why when I read stories in the Bible, I tend to create pictures in my mind and then think about why the story went the way it did. I’ll explain. Anytime I stumble on the story of the tragic death of John the Baptist, I always wondered why of all things to ask for, Herodias chose his head! I mean, up until I listened to Apostle Selman’s short message on the topic, I didn’t quite understand. With his explanation, understanding came to me. I now understood why. Yes, Herodias must have been hurt by what John the Baptist said about him being against her marriage to her husband’s brother (I’m not so sure it was a legal marriage, and judging by John the Baptist’s intervention, Phillip, Herod’s brother must have been alive when his wife was taken away from him). From the realistic point of view, Herodias had the right to be pissed that someone else was intruding in her business. That she had John the Baptist killed meant Herod didn’t snatch her forcefully from his brother, but she also willingly went with him. But looking at the case from the standpoint of common sense, going to the extent of killing the man is an act of the highest form of cruelty. (Before we go on, lemme quickly tell you this…) Jezebel and Herodias had some things in common, so did Elijah and John the Baptist. Jezebel turned Ahab’s heart away from the Lord and subtly murdered a man (1 Kings 21). Herodias also made Herod sin and murdered a man in the process (Matt. 14). Only difference is one died tragically, while the other carried on her legacy (if you know what I mean). Both Elijah and John the Baptist dared authorities. Only difference is the other character paid the with his head. This is more reason why Apostle Selman’s explanation resonates with me. I believe I had been able to lay a strong foundation for this topic. Now, here’s where the lesson comes in…

John the Baptist came in the spirit and power of Elijah; not a part of Elijah, but all that makes Elijah Elijah! You know what that means? He had the capacity to walk in the shoes of Elijah. Ditto! Unfortunately, John the Baptist must have walked in one aspect; “his spirit,” not his power. Meanwhile, he was supposed to walk in both. This is where you come in… I’ve heard this times without count that you should be able to find yourself in the scriptures, meaning there should be e particular personality in the scripture whose persona resonates with yours. I could give you a list… the story of Moses and Jonah respectively is pointing us to the persona of what Jesus is coming to do (writing time will not permit me to give a detailed explanation, but if you’d like to know, let me know in the comment section). Practically everything in the Old Testament is pointing us to the person of Jesus. There are however, some specific scenario like that of Moses and Jonah that points us to Christ (check the lesson from Moses and the children of Israel here- The story behind the story of the children of Israel). The Apostles themselves walked in the spirit and power of Jesus. As for me, from the scriptures, I know whose spirit and power I’m walking in (Nope, I’m not telling. Sorry. It’s not like it’s supposed to be a secret, but if you tell me yours in the comment section, I’ll tell you mine).

All of us as Real Christians (you know Christian means Christ-like, right? I think we have an article relating to this. Check here- Surely, you're one of them) should walk in the spirit and the power of Jesus. Putting aside other Bible characters, you should walk in the spirit and power of our Lord Jesus. If you have no persona to relate to in the scriptures, pick Jesus (I mean, c’mon. It’s not debatable).

Have you taken out time to study in the scriptures about the man or woman you think you’re walking in their shoes? I have done my own study, and I look forward to doing another study soon. Whatever you do as a believer should have a basis from the scripture. You should have your “this is the scripture the Lord gave me when I inquired of me OR this is the person the Lord told me to study his lifestyle and walk therein.” I want to believe you must have heard people speak about men of God and how some people’s life in the scriptures relate with theirs. Not just the scriptures now, but also other men of old that have walked in this land. For denominational reasons, I won’t give a list, but I’m convinced you know what I’m trying to point out.

In order to walk in the shoes of these men and even have more influence than they did, you’ll need to do a thorough study on them and also give place to the Holy Spirit to give you more explanations (and oh, you can also relate the information to your mentor). Let it not be that you came in the Spirit and power of Elijah, and you ended up in the wrong path. Or that you came in the spirit and power of an Evangelist and you’re busy with the work of a Teacher. Let it not be heard that you came in the Spirit and power of Apostle Paul (not referring to his marital status now) and you’re walking in the shoes of a mere floor member in the church. Brethren, let it not be heard that you didn’t walk in the shoes that have been kept just for you. Let it not be known, most especially, that you didn’t walk in the power and shoes of Jesus.

If you have the knowledge of yours, you’re good to go. If you do not, start with Jesus. Would you rather I list for you things Jesus did that you should do? Need I mention how to live like Jesus? That’s the job of the Holy Spirit. I believe He’ll expound these things in our hearts.

In whose spirit and power are you walking??