Luke 3: 2,3  “….the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3. He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Another chapter in the great mystery of our faith is unraveled here as this unremarkable figure, John (Jesus’ cousin)  receives this order as prophesied by in Isiah 40:3-5  to preach baptism for the forgiveness of sins and John goes forward calling the people to be baptized. 

What We Should Know

John did not question his calling. He didn’t ask any questions. While baptism was unknown to John and to the people, he went for it not realizing that baptism would be one of the two sacraments that Jesus would ordain. We should treat our calling, however minimal or meaningless or confusing it might seem to us, as though it may change the world. Remember, it is the coming together of all the small pieces that bring a jigsaw puzzle to life. Our spiritual gifts come together the same way in the church.