Observations:
I asked myself who are all the CHARACTERS mentioned directly or indirectly in verses 4-8:

Observations/Interpretations:
I asked myself what I can learn about John from verses 4-8:

1.  John came baptizing in the desert region.
2.  John came preaching a baptism of repentance.
3. John was able to draw huge crowd towards him.
4. John baptized those who first confessed their sins in the Jordan River.
5. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair.
6. John wore a leather belt around his waist.
7. John ate locusts and wild honey.
8. John knew he was a messenger.
9. John shows his humbleness.
10. John was prepared to draw crowds to the One more powerful than he was.

Interpretations/Applications:
I asked myself what was the significance of each point?

Points 1 & 2:  John came baptizing in the desert region, preaching a baptism of repentance.

It is interesting that John did not go right into the cities to preach a baptism of repentance but isolated himself in the desert region, baptizing there. This fulfilled prophecy regarding ‘a voice of one calling in the desert!' Yet, he was able to accomplish something significant which is evident by point 3.

Point 3: John was able to draw huge crowds to him.

John must have been a powerful speaker or a speaker that drew interest that the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Now as I think about it, a desert region has lots of space that can be used for all those who wanted to listen to him. Also when the people found out that there was someone in the desert region preaching a baptism of repentance, they could have been reminded of the Book of Isaiah and wanted to check it out. Human tendency is that if a lot of people are flocking to an area other people will usually follow even if they do not know anything about the prophecy. This could have happened too. Now they are in the desert region and put themselves in a place to receive. This is evident by point 4.

Point 4: John baptized those who first confessed their sins.

I found it very interesting that John did not take baptism lightly but only baptized in the Jordan River those who confessed their sins. In essence, he was symbolically washing them clean. This happened only after he first preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. This showed me the connection there is between repentance and confession. These two became prerequisites to baptism. Only after people decided to repent (turn from) their evil ways and then confess their evil ways did he agree to baptize them in the Jordan River.

I also found it so interesting that desert region was mentioned first before the Jordan River. This made me realize that many times our lifestyle can be likened to a desert region. It is dry and like a parched land. We may want to get out of it but we are figuratively surrounded by the desert and hope for water to quench our thirst and give us hope. Yet, there seems to be a condition to receive that water into our lives. It starts with admitting when our lifestyle is wrong and deciding to confess and turn from it. When that happens we do figuratively receive that water into our lives. Now we have moved from the desert region of thirst into alleviating our thirst. Even then, it is interesting that John does not stop with just baptizing them in the water which is evident later.

Points 5-8: John, who wore clothing made of camels hair, wore a leather belt, and ate locusts & wild honey knew he was just a messenger.

I believe whatever the Bible mentions, there is a reason for it.

So I thought to myself, why mention John’s clothing attire and his food?

In olden days, emissaries used to come first to prepare the way for someone important who was going to come. They would lay out the groundwork and preparations for that person to come. They themselves would have some important title that would draw people to them.

For me clothing made of camel’s hair reminds me of fur and the expensiveness of it. The leather belt also reminds me of expensiveness. Leather can sure be expensive. Now the food he eats is significant too. He eats locusts and wild honey in the desert region. I believe God provided them for him. Honey to me is expensive and not cheap even in the supermarkets now.

For me all this pointed to John being someone important with a message. He knew he was a messenger and not just a messenger but a ‘powerful messenger’ and crowds were flocking to him.  Yet, he does something that is evident by points 9 & 10.

Point 9&10: John shows his humbleness by wanting to lead the crowd to someone else.

John does not take the opportunity to boost his own resume, getting excited about all the people that were coming to him. Instead, “this was his message: "After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

John made three very significant points to prepare the way for the One who was to come:

Statement 1:  After me will come one more powerful than I.

This shows me that John was powerful but did not let that power go to him. Instead he is humble and tells the crowd that he is not the one to be followed because there is One who is more powerful than he who will come.

Statement 2: The thongs of whose sandals, I am not worthy to stoop down and tie.

He tells the crowd that even though he is seen as powerful, he does not feel worthy to even stoop down and tie the thongs of the sandals of One who is to come and that’s how powerful the One who is to come is.

Statement 3: I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

John lets them know that there is a baptism more important than water baptism and it is being baptized with the Holy Spirit which he cannot do but the One who is to come will.

John has prepared the way for the One who is to come!

IMPLICATIONS:
I saw important implications for my own life. What stuck out to me was ‘pointing’. Whatever John did, his mission became to point others to Jesus. Even when the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem came to him, he was telling them not to focus on him but the One who would baptize them with the Holy Spirit.

I learned that numbers can just be numbers sometimes and it can give us a sense of false satisfaction even in fellowships and churches. Numbers necessarily do not always mean people are being drawn to Christ and growing in Christ.

Now as the Pittsburgh Standard is being published, there is the temptation to want to work on the paper only when I know a lot of people are coming to it and reading it. The paper is not here to build my ego but the paper is there to glorify Christ and to try to help people grow in the Lord and at the same time give coverage of events that are happening on campus, in the county, city, country, and continents of the world as time permits. This means even if only one person is pointed to Christ and is growing in their faith, it is worth it. Even if only one person looks at any article, it is worth it!

The awesome thing is that one of the students shared with me the impact the devotionals in the Pittsburgh Standard had to draw her to Jesus Christ! For that one person being pointed to Christ this paper's existence is worth it!

I ask you now dear friend, who do you point to?
Dear friend, if all you do is point to yourself, then this passage should lead you in another direction. It is awesome there are so many fellowships on campus and hopefully all continue to exist to point people to Christ and not just be happy with numbers that come. The same thing goes for churches.

I want to encourage you from experience that amazing things can happen with just few people too who are passionate and have a heart to glorify the Lord and bring people closer to Him carrying the vision of pointing people to Jesus. In my time in ministry with my brothers and sisters in the Lord, I have seen that happen! We were small but every leadership team we worked with at one time or other had a glowing and fiery passion to reach students with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and those who were already believers to help them grow in their faith. The fellowship was also honored at one time by the Student Government Board of the past.

You may have a passion and vision to help people grow strong in the Lord and point people to Christ, but may feel inadequate because of size. Don’t! For the Lord can use you where you are and help you as you seek Him diligently and become humble. If you have a desire to point people to Christ, He will open the doors and make a way.

I am part of Oakland International Fellowship every Sunday morning where their passion is to know Jesus and make Jesus known throughout the international community. You do not have to be an international student to be part of the church.

The church meets at North Dithridge Street opposite to Webster Hall. Prayer meetings start at 9:00 a.m., worship starts at 10:00 a.m., Sunday School at 11:30 a.m., and free lunch at 12:30 p.m. We also have Bible study cell groups on Friday nights. If you want information on any of these please email me or call me at 412-720-4579.

When we let Jesus be the focus, He will take care of the rest! Amen!