The Mandate of John the Baptist
Pastor Zubeda Sing · 1 min read
“In those days John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the Wilderness of Judea [along the western side of the Dead Sea] and saying, "Repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life], for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” This is the one who was mentioned by the prophet Isaiah when he said, "THE VOICE OF ONE SHOUTING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘PREPARE THE ROAD FOR THE LORD,”
PREPARE THE ROAD FOR THE LORD. As roads were smoothed and straightened for the arrival of a king, so John was preparing a spiritual path for the Messiah. The quotation is from Isaiah 40:3.
John the Baptist demonstrated exemplary leadership when he willingly acknowledged the coming of one greater than himself. He followed God’s call and exercised his leadership to prepare the way for the coming Messiah.
While in prison, John the Baptist questioned whether or not Jesus was truly the Messiah. So he sent some of his disciples to present his questions to the Lord. Instead of reprimanding John for having doubts, Jesus provided the prophet with the information he needed to strengthen his faith.
He knew he had been called, however when the circumstances around him became unclear, he began to question the very understanding of his call, by questioning Jesus.
In all of our ways, we need to acknowledge the Lord our God and put our trust in him. He will never give us more than we can handle, and he knows us enough to know that we can handle what he has called us to do.
From the October 2026 issue, themed THE MANDATE & MISSION OF A THRIVER.
