Introduction
Every year, on June 24, all of Quebec celebrates Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day. Fireworks, shows, large gatherings: the celebration has become a national symbol. But before it was Quebec's national holiday, this date marked the birth of a man who left his mark on the history of Christianity: John the Baptist, the prophet who prepared the way for Jesus.
In a message preached at Chapelle Nouvelle Vie as part of the "Conquering Summer" series on Hebrews 11, Pastor Jérémie Meyer takes the time to go back to the source. Why John the Baptist? Because his entire life had only one purpose: to point to Jesus Christ. And this ancient story has much to say to you today, about your relationship with God, about your identity, about how you relate to honor.
Here are three marks of John the Baptist's life that you can make your own this week.
Article Outline
1. The solidity of his relationship with God
2. Assurance in his identity and his calling
3. A deep humility that gives Jesus all the room
1. The solidity of his relationship with God
John the Baptist did not come out of nowhere. Son of Zechariah, a priest descended from Abijah, and of Elizabeth, a descendant of Aaron, he was the miracle son of an elderly, childless couple. The angel Gabriel (the same one who would later announce Jesus' birth to Mary) came to tell Zechariah that this son would be "great in the sight of the Lord," filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb, and that he would turn many Israelites back to God (Luke 1).
His very name is telling. Yohanan, in Hebrew, means "God is gracious." No one in his family had ever been called that: God chose it himself.
Once grown, John withdrew to a desert place. This doesn't necessarily mean an endless stretch of sand. In the Bible, the desert is first of all a place of solitude, a place where you stand face to face with yourself and with God. Dressed in camel's hair, fed on wild honey and locusts, he was trained there by God for the mission that awaited him.
When he finally emerged, his ministry exploded. Crowds came to hear him and be baptized. His fame grew so great that some wondered if he might be the Messiah himself. Despite this, John never gave in to ambition. His answer was always the same: "You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him'" (John 3:28).
Holding such a position, without bending under the pressure of the crowds, is impossible without a relationship deeply rooted in God. This inner solidity is the root of everything else. Without it, neither your identity nor your calling will withstand the shock.
2. Assurance in his identity and his calling
Because John knew who he was in God, he also knew who he was not. And because he knew who he was, he knew what he was called to and what he was not called to.
This becomes clear in a revealing scene in John 3:22-30. His disciples came to him, worried: "That man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan... look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him." In other words: our ministry is slipping away from us.
John's answer is astonishingly peaceful. No jealousy, no comparison, no panic: "A person can receive only what is given them from heaven... He must become greater; I must become less." What was happening was exactly what he had worked for.
This assurance rests on a very simple principle: let God define who you are and what you are called to. And that principle begins with his Word.
The foundation of your understanding of who God is, and of who you are in him, is found nowhere else but in the Bible. Personality tests, self-help books, podcasts, therapy sessions can all be good and useful. But if you don't first grasp who God is, what he does, how he sees you, and what he calls you to, everything else rests on nothing truly solid. You will wear yourself out building a golden statue on feet of clay.
And it is not enough to know the verses by heart. You have to put them into practice. The honest question to ask yourself today may not be "am I listening to enough good messages?" but "to what extent am I practicing what I already hear?"
3. A deep humility that gives Jesus all the room
The sentence that sums up John the Baptist's entire life is this one: "He must become greater; I must become less" (John 3:30).
Humility carries within it the deep desire to step aside so that Christ can be brought into the light, to give him the glory and honor that belong to him. But let's be honest: that's hard. We love glory, we love honor. That's why we need a simple daily prayer:
Lord, help me today to give you the honor and glory that belong to you, and not to seek them for myself.
The truth is, you were not designed to carry glory. When someone compliments you, you can feel it: you don't quite know what to do with that honor. Our shoulders aren't broad enough. Only one person has shoulders wide enough to carry all the glory: God himself.
John the Baptist understood this. Like the friend of the bridegroom who rejoices to hear the groom's voice without stealing the spotlight, he stood beside Jesus and pointed to him. His life and ministry had only one purpose: to tell the world, "Don't look at me, look at him."
Jesus himself would say of him: "Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist" (Matthew 11:11). And yet, right after: "Yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." Good news: if you belong to Christ, you belong to a kingdom even greater than John the Baptist's calling.
Key Takeaways
- John the Baptist's life had only one purpose: to point to Jesus Christ. That is the thread running through his entire story, from his birth to his death.
- A solid identity in Christ withstands the pressure of crowds and the temptation of ambition. It is built in secret, before being tested in public.
- Let God and his Word define who you are and what you are called to, rather than opinions, tests, or trends.
- Putting the Word into practice is worth more than accumulating biblical knowledge.
- You were not made to carry glory: learn to send it back to the One who is worthy of it.
Personal Application
- How much does my life truly point to Jesus, in my work, my family, my friendships?
- When success comes, what do I do with it? Do I take the opportunity to give the glory back to God, or do I keep it for myself?
- Do I let God's Word define my identity, or do I wait for a test, a book, or others' opinions to tell me who I am?
- Is there a recent message God has laid on my heart that I still haven't started putting into practice?
- Am I able, today, to make my own the prayer, "He must become greater and I must become less"?
Scriptures Cited
- Hebrews 11:1-2, 33-39 - The faith of the heroes of the Old Testament.
- Luke 1 - The announcement of John the Baptist's birth.
- Luke 1:80 - "The child grew and became strong in spirit."
- Isaiah 40:3 - The voice crying out in the wilderness.
- Malachi 3:1 - The messenger who prepares the way.
- Matthew 3:7-9 - "You brood of vipers..."
- Matthew 11:11 - "There has not risen anyone greater than John."
- John 3:22-30 - "He must increase, but I must decrease."
FAQ
Who was John the Baptist in the Bible?
John the Baptist is the last of the prophets of the old covenant. Son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, cousin of Jesus, he was announced by the angel Gabriel even before his birth. His mission: to prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah, to call them to repentance, and to baptize in the Jordan. He himself baptized Jesus at the start of his ministry.
Why is Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day celebrated on June 24?
The date comes from Luke 1, which places John the Baptist's birth six months before Christ's: June 24, exactly six months before Christmas. The celebration arrived in New France with French settlers. The first documented celebration in Canada dates back to 1646. It became a public holiday in 1925, then Quebec's national holiday in 1977 under René Lévesque's government.
What does "He must increase, but I must decrease" mean?
This statement from John the Baptist, in John 3:30, expresses the central posture of a disciple: giving Jesus all the room. John compares himself to the friend of the bridegroom who rejoices to hear the groom's voice without stealing the spotlight. In practice, this means giving God the glory in our successes rather than keeping it for ourselves, and letting Jesus be the main character of our lives.
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