You Were Born for Greatness

 Sunday before Theophany

2 Tim 4:5-8
Mark 1:1-8

Shakespeare wrote, “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them”. John the Baptist was born for greatness.  No,  not greatness as man defines it. He was born for greatness as God defines it.

One thing that we tend to overlook is that John the Baptist was born to be a priest. As we know, the Old Covenant was given as a shadow of the New.  Under the New Covenant, those in Church ministry - Bishops, Priests, Deacons - are chosen by the church.  But under the Old, there was no choosing. Being a priest or Levite was by birth.

The son of a priest was a priest, and Luke’s gospel tells us that John’s father was a priest named Zechariah. 

And this priest, John, was the first to recognize Jesus as the Incarnate God. Luke tells us that upon being told that she would bear a son, Mary went to visit her kinswoman, Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John.  He tells us, “when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb”. 

Like Jesus, John’s birth was foretold by Gabriel, the same angel who foretold the birth of Jesus. Because Zechariah doubted it, he was struck dumb until John was born. Gabriel said that his name would be John - a name that nobody else in the family bore. When the baby was born, Zechariah confirmed the name and was able to speak again. As a result, the people who witnessed this miracle wondered what plans God had for John.

John was born for greatness.

We won’t see John again for about 30 years. He was in the desert, preaching and baptizing.  If we saw him today, we’d probably call him a wild man of the desert.  As our Gospel today says, he was dressed in camel’s hair with a leather belt, and his diet was bugs and honey. That was certainly counter-cultural, no matter what the culture!

But counter-cultural behavior can point the way to God, and that was certainly the case with John.  All four gospels identify him with the messenger sent to prepare the way of the Lord, preaching a Baptism of Repentance. Because of this, Jesus called John as “the greatest of men born to women” Matthew reports him as saying, “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is near”.  Luke tells us more, that he was preaching more than mere repentance.  It shows him challenging the people to live moral lives.  

John was born for greatness!

But, all four Gospels have him saying that one is coming after him, one whose sandals he’s not even fit to tie.  And then, the One, Jesus, comes to him, asking for Baptism. 

After this, there’s only one more story about John.  Herodias had divorced her first husband to marry his half-brother, Herod Antipas. The historians don’t agree on the details, but it is clear that, besides everything else, she was also related by blood to the brothers.  So, it was a situation of divorce, adultery, and incest. 

As the Gospel of Mark relates it, “Herod had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias. John had said to Herod, 'It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.' Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so. Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him. She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee. Herodias’s own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, 'Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.' He even swore to her, 'I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom.'  She went out and said to her mother, 'What shall I ask for?' She replied, 'The head of John the Baptist.' The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request, 'I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.' The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her.  So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison. He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother.”

John already knew what Jesus would teach -  “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna . . . . . Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father.”

John was born for greatness.

And you were born for greatness.  You may not be great by baptizing Jesus. You may not be great by confronting the powerful.  

But you can be great by the Acts of Mercy - because, as Paul tells us, God is rich in mercy.

When John told Herod that it was not lawful for him to have Herodias - that was a Spiritual Act of Mercy - admonish the sinner.  

When you pray for the living of the dead - that’s a Spiritual Act of Mercy.  Counsel the doubtful, forgive others, comfort the sorrowful - Spiritual Acts of Mercy. 

Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick or imprisoned? Corporal Acts of Mercy.

John was born for greatness, but so were you.