Scripture repeatedly insists that in some mysterious way God has already singled out some individuals for special divine purposes. The biblical portrayals of prophets and holy people often begin by describing their mission beginning even in their mother’s womb. This Suffering Servant song refers to the prophet’s mission to rouse Israel from the broken-spirited lethargy afflicting her after the return from exile in Babylon. Defeat, exile and 50 years as prisoners had all taken a huge toll. Jerusalem and the temple still had not been rebuilt, the land was still devastated and the people seemed to have lost a sense of their divine mission to the world. The charge of the Suffering Servant was to stir the people from their negativity, lethargy and sense of alienation and to inspire them with a sense of their own mission as a light to humanity and to the world. There are more parallels with our own situation than we would care to admit. Wars, financial collapse, terrorism, scandals and the failure of leaders have all sapped much of our spiritual and psychological energy. There is a need for a vision and a renewed sense of collective self and mission. Harshness, rigidity or a return to a romanticized past will not help us at all. The ministry of encouragement and inspiration is indeed “no small thing” and it is a ministry that is much needed today and we all have a valuable part in this work.

Paul recalled the many individuals who played their part in the drama of salvation. David was a man devoted to God and was therefore called to the role of king of Israel. He was far from perfect and made many mistakes that none of us should emulate but it was from his descendants that Jesus was born. John the Baptist spent his entire life pointing away from himself towards the one to come after him. He did not feel at all diminished in his secondary role of God’s advance man. Again, each one of us has a part to play, many times as a walk-on or an extra but vital nonetheless.

John the Baptist’s life matched the pattern of Old Testament prophets. His birth was to a barren mother and aged parents as in the births of Samuel and Samson. In a similar fashion, an angel delivered the news to the parents and informed them that the child to be born was designated for great deeds on God’s behalf. As a punishment for his doubt, the angel rendered John’s father Zechariah unable to speak until the birth of the baby. It was only the occasion and the argument at the time of the naming of the baby that loosed his tongue. The name was thought to reflect the nature and the quality of the person and to bear a message — and John means “God is gracious.” This tells us a lot about the nature of John’s mission, which was to prepare the way for the infinitely gracious gift of God in Jesus Christ.

John’s supporting role with regard to Jesus was not immediately evident to all, and many in the first century wondered if he might be the Messiah. Indeed, it appears that Jesus was at one time his disciple before beginning His own ministry. John provides a wonderful model for spiritual ministry and leadership. He always pointed away from himself and any form of self-seeking to the one to come: Jesus. John was willing to fulfill his own role and then to step aside and let another complete the mission.

As individual believers and as a Church it is always helpful to remember that our work is not about us but about the Lord. The key is living out the principle “he must increase and I (we) must decrease.”