April is the month for commencement events in our institutions of higher learning. These are worthy occasions to celebrate those who have worked hard to gain knowledge. These events give voice to phrases such as "Reach for the Stars," or "The Best is yet to Come" or "There's No Limit to what You can Do." These words paint a picture of a grand adventure that lies ahead of the graduate. They speak of the potential of one person's life to bring change for the better.
For many though, in the days to follow, expectations don't match reality. Just a few years after graduation, instead of wealth, prestige and worldly acclaim, they have deadlines, long working hours and a significant amount of university tuition debt. Maybe they'll wonder "Whatever happened to that grand adventure I was promised at graduation?"
At my college graduation the keynote speaker invited us to consider what he called the miracle of the mundane. He assured us that there was something special - even miraculous - in the lives of those who are faithful in the little things, day in and day out. He used John 10:40-42 as his inspiration. In this Bible passage we find some people reminiscing about the life and ministry of John the Baptist. And what they said about him speaks volumes about how he lived his life.
Starting at verse 40 of John chapter 10 we read, "Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. Here he stayed and many people came to him. They said, 'Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John said about this man was true.' And in that place many believed in Jesus."
What an interesting testimony of John's life. He never performed any miraculous signs - no miracles. And yet Jesus, in Matthew 11:11 said, "I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist..." According to Jesus, John was the greatest of the prophets.
I grew up going to Sunday school and if you'd asked me who my favourite prophet was I'd probably have chosen Elijah. Remember him? He's the guy who called down fire from heaven, outran the king's horses, and was brought up to heaven in a fiery chariot. Exciting stuff.
In terms of favourite Bible characters, John the Baptist wouldn't have made my top 10 list. But according to Jesus, John was the greatest.
But why? What did John do that gained him such honour in the eyes of Jesus? Well, our text in John 10 simply tells us that "...all that John said about Jesus was true." John was faithful to the task he'd been called to. He served to prepare the way for people to receive Jesus. No fire from heaven, no bionic wind sprints, no heavenly chariot. Just the mundane routine of everyday life, sharing Jesus, urging repentance.
Jesus said more in Matthew 11:11 than I quoted earlier. He finished that verse saying, "...yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."
We can have an even greater impact than John. He died before Jesus went to the cross. He wasn't around for the resurrection. But by God's grace we know the end of the story. And if we trust and follow Jesus, sharing everything that's true about Him, we are offering what Jesus calls "...the way, the truth, and the life!" (John 14:6). And that means, even the mundane routines of everyday can be miraculous in someone's life.
