A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

THE ATYPICAL PROPHET      

Matthew 3:4-6 “ John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.”   

An unlikely prophet in an unusual location. John did not wear the usual clothing of a prophet. His clothing was made of camel’s hair. He did not live a normal life. Just look at his diet: locusts and wild honey. His ministry was not in the populous towns. In fact, he did not minister in a town at all. He carried out his prophetic ministry in the wilderness. In spite of John’s appearance and location his ministry attracted crowds of people from Jerusalem and all of Judea. 

John did not promise the people a pot of gold. There is no indication that he performed any miracles, including miracles of healing. His ministry was spiritual! He called a spade a spade. He told the people they were sinners and they needed God’s forgiveness. The last verse of today’s devotional verse says the people confessed their sins and “they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.”   

I have actually visited the site where archeologists believe John carried out his ministry. It is in a remote area where you must literally walk for some distance along the Jordon river to the site. There is nothing attractive about the site. Yet, the people sought out John and his baptism. They desired God’s forgiveness of their sins. 

It is not the place, nor the attractiveness of the pastor that matters when it comes to the Holy Spirit leading a person to recognize their sins and their need for forgiveness. In many cases today great expense is directed toward the building of houses of worship, baptismal fonts are often ornate and there may even be a tall sacramental candle nearby. What God does through His Word, connected to the water is what matters. Not the pastor! Not the location! It is the Holy Spirit working through God’s law convincing sinners of their sinfulness and need of God’s forgiveness. It is the Holy Spirit working through God’s Word connected to water that sins are washed away.   

Prayer: O God, keep me steadfast in my faith through the power of the Gospel and the leading of Your Holy Spirit. Amen. 

I know my faith is founded On Jesus Christ, my God and Lord;  And this my faith confessing, Unmoved I stand on His sure Word.  Our reason cannot fathom The truth of god profound;  Who trusts in human wisdom Relies on shifting ground.  God’s Word is all-sufficient, It makes divinely sure;  And trusting in its wisdom, My faith shall rest secure.   

Increase my faith, dear Savior, For Satan seeks by night and day  To rob me of this treasure And take my hope of bliss away.  But, Lord, with You beside me, I shall be undismayed;  And led by Your good Spirit, I shall be unafraid.  Abide with me, O Savior, A firmer faith bestow;  Then I shall bid defiance to ev’ry evil foe. 

In faith, Lord, let me serve You; Though persecution, grief, and pain  Should seek to overwhelm me, Let me a steadfast trust retrain;  And then at my departure, Lord take me home to You,  Your richest to inherit As all You said holds true.  In life and death, Lord, keep me Until Your heav’n I gain,  Where I by Your great mercy The end of faith attain.  (LSB 587)