Article: John The Baptist | Jiji Kuruvilla, CAN
He must become greater; I must become less. – John 3:30 (NIV)
On the day before John the Baptist’s execution, the world felt heavy with the impending loss of a remarkable soul. John, the rugged and righteous prophet, had been a beacon of hope, a voice of thunder in the wilderness, and a harbinger of the Messiah. Yet, now, he was on the brink of his final, fateful day.
From the confines of his bleak prison cell, John’s heart ached with the weight of his mission and the uncertainty of the path ahead. The memory of the countless souls he had immersed in the Jordan River lingered in his thoughts – people he had led to repentance, awakening their spirits to a higher calling. His passionate exhortations and his unshakable dedication to righteousness had drawn multitudes, but now they were distant echoes in the recesses of his mind.
As the shadows lengthened and his cell darkened, John’s thoughts turned to the very Messiah he had fervently proclaimed, the one whose sandals he was unworthy to untie. In these sombre hours, he held on to his belief that Jesus was the Lamb of God, the fulfilment of ages-old prophecies. John’s own life was nearing its end, but he found solace in knowing that the divine plan was unfolding. He was the herald, and his mission, though ending in human terms, was transitioning into something eternal.
He must become greater; I must become less.” – John 3:30 (NIV) this was not a verse from the Torah but the very rhythm of his heartbeat!
The day before his execution, John was filled with a profound blend of reflection and unwavering faith. John’s legacy, forged not in palaces or riches but in the wilderness of the spirit, was his most cherished achievement. He had prepared the hearts of many for the coming of the Savior. The promise of redemption and salvation was about to be fulfilled, and he was a vital part of it.
In the solitude of his prison cell, tears might have welled in John’s eyes, not for himself but for the world he was leaving behind. He had done what he had been called to do – to announce the Messiah’s arrival, to lead souls to repentance, and to guide hearts to the light. His voice, like a roaring river, would become a whisper, but the impact of his ministry would resonate through the ages, reminding us of the power of unwavering faith and the beauty of selfless dedication to a divine calling.
John the Baptist’s day before his execution is an emotional meditation on the courage to stand firm in one’s convictions, even in the face of impending darkness. It’s a testament to the depth of faith, the power of purpose, and the profound impact of one man’s unwavering devotion to his divine calling, even as he faced his final, tear-stained sunset.
‘ .. I must become less.’ – John 3:30 (NIV)
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