The Book of Mark
Chapter 1 (NIV)
5The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
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I heard that at the time, John the Baptist actually had a greater following than Jesus Christ. He must have been very charismatic. Why camel's hair? Did the bible mention camels before this? Wouldn't camel's hair be rough and hot?
Anyway, it seems like John was really stirring up Judea - inspiring people and getting them excited for the one who was to come. By focusing upon the themes of sin and new life. He truly was preparing the way. Did he know at the time that he was preparing the way specifically for his cousin, Jesus?
5The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. (NASB)
I think there are two people in the new testament who are used by God intensely as His tools of instrument (besides Christ), Paul and John. John the Baptist was able to preach convincingly about the Kingdom of God with the help of the Holy Spirit. Through his baptism with water, many people were confessed their sins and were converted to God, as we can see. It is also visible that John the Baptist really tried to live a dedicated holy life for God by refraining himself from the comfort and luxury of the world.... What is it that we have to give up so that we can become more effective tools of instrument to God?
It always struck me as odd that John would be doing what he's doing out in the desert. Why not out in the shopping malls or the busy street corners of his time to spread the news of the coming Savior? Yet, people came out to see John confessing their sins. I take that while comes to us first and initiates through His kindness and love, it also takes a measure of responsive effort (as in going out to the desert to repent and be baptized here) for Him to work in my life. I ask myself the question, am I seeking God today?
Oh~ I remember asking the same questions, what is the significance of camel's hair, eating locusts and wild honey.
I too wonder if John knew that Jesus, his cousin would be our savior.
For people gathering out in the desert, maybe because people will feel more comfortable in repenting and more focus than being distracted by the "world" when done in the streets, markets, etc.
I see it also as a symbolism... how there are very limited water out in the desert and yet you get baptized by water. We must also be thirsty to receive the gift from God. Also out in the nature (as we talked about few weeks back), we can find God more easily.
This reminds me about how I should spent more time being alone with God away from the worldly things that gets in the way.
Different Bible translations vary in how they describe the number of people who were baptised by John. But what's clearly asserted is that very many, if not most, people in Judea and Jerusalem were baptised by John. What accounted for the general public's embracing of baptisms? And if this is literally true, how does this public reaction compare to what Jesus and his disciples/apostles received from these same regions and peoples? What happened to John's influence after he acknowledged Jesus' authority upon baptising Him? Was his "initial popularity" possible because people did not fully understand the implications of what he was saying?
I like M's thought about the spiritual symbolism of water (life) in the context of desert/wilderness (death). May be a stretch, but this now reminds me of the water reference from our earlier QT verse (Psalm 24:2).
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