Meet Duck The Baptist. Pointing the way with urgency! It’s always a joy when a photo catches a “moment” of action or a humorous pose… This mallard was enthusiastically immersing himself (and any other fowl that came near) in a flurry of feathers and spray.
Then my strange sense of the ridiculous kicked in… “Duck” the Baptist can be read in more than one way. Find a Baptist and duck them (is that technically re-baptism?). Or, Duck, “The Baptist” … a statement of identity and non-conformist faith. “How about “Duck The Baptist”, a modern day baptiser taking after John of the same surname? Pointing the Way.
Well- that’s a convoluted way of arriving at the first chapter of John’s Gospel.
After the glorious introduction to the Word… John the Baptist is introduced as the one who will “prepare the Way” for Jesus’s arrival. John points to the One who is to come- and sets about baptising all who came in repentance and faith. He is a messenger, a witness, a signpost.
John the Baptist does not want to be the centre of attention, even though crowds came to hear him proclaiming the goodness and ways of God. Becoming a public figure – notorious or celebrated- meant John was a target to those he criticised (Herod, the Jewish leadership) and an inspirational change-maker for those who sincerely sought God. He divided opinion and stirred up trouble.
He also faced a challenge- to “become less” even as Jesus came to prominence. John told his listeners that “I have seen and I testify that THIS is the Son of God.” (v34)
Isn’t this selfless testimony our example for Advent? People ask why we “keep Christ in Christmas” and we can say what we have seen, heard, and experienced: we point to Jesus, not ourselves.
I’m “Richard the Baptist” and I can’t duck the challenge. Will you?
The Reflectionary 