SIGNS AND WONDERS

Exodus 39:1-40:38; Mark 1:1-28; Psalm 35:1-16; Proverbs 9:11-12

“Now whenever the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out on their journey, following it. But if the cloud did not rise, they remained where they were until it lifted. The cloud of the Lord hovered over the Tabernacle during the day, and at night fire glowed inside the cloud so the whole family of Israel could see it. This continued throughout all their journeys.”

“This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.  It began just as the prophet Isaiah had written: ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
and he will prepare your way.  He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!
 Clear the road for him!’  This messenger was John the Baptist. He was in the wilderness and preached that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven….  John announced: ‘Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals.’”

What makes a good sign? 

First, it has to have a message.  A sign with no message provides no information.  At best, it is worthless; at worst, it’s distracting.

Second, it has to lead or point to something else.  A sign that merely points to itself is redundant and unnecessary.

Third, a good sign is obvious.  It does not hide behind bushes or shrink into obscurity.  It boldly proclaims its message of guidance and direction.

Finally, a sign never makes itself; it is created by something or someone else.

John the Baptist was the perfect human sign.  He had a message: repent and be baptized, for the Kingdom of heaven is near. He was obvious, shouting, eating locusts, claiming attention not for himself, but for the Kingdom.  Most important, he pointed to something – more precisely, to Someone – else, the Messiah.  Wonder of wonders, he did not get all caught up in himself, either, or claim he was indispensible to the work of God.  He never saw his ministry as preeminent.  He was willing to get out of the way when the time came. But until then, he never left his flock without guidance.  From God.  Neither he nor his message were self-appointed.

I try to be a good sign.  Sometimes, it works out OK; I have a message, and no problem with shyness.  I’d like to think I’m even getting better at pointing others to Jesus.  But I’m still working on that self-importance thing, and the line between God’s Word and my words is still way too indistinct.

So, here’s a tip of the hat to John the Baptist.  He was a human wonder we all would do well to imitate (well, maybe not the clothes or the locusts, but his message was right on).  In a word, he was the perfect sign, and he led people to the perfect destination: Christ.