I am a bug-eater

Being a forerunner is not a career move you want to make if you like the spotlight on you. Take the automobile for example. Most Americans credit the invention of the automobile to Henry Ford, but that is incorrect. Karl Benz invented the first automobile run by a internal combustion engine in 1885, years before Ford began producing automobiles. What made Ford famous was what he did with the automobile, which was place it within reach of the average American. Ford took what Benz and others had built, and invented assembly-line production to make inexpensive cars. So Ford gets all the attention.                                      (Karl Benz)

Mark 1:1-13
1:1 The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.   2 It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way"- 3 "a voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'"   4 And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And 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. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." 9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." 12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, 13 and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

John the Baptist was the ultimate forerunner. His entire focus was on proclaiming the coming of the Messiah. And when Jesus came to be baptized by John, it nearly bowled him over. Here was the Messiah, coming to him, a bug-eating, camel skin wearing wild man! He was the dirty one, not Jesus. Such was John’s perspective.

I struggle sometimes about being a forerunner, which is what I am. Part of me says, “Hey, I like being the center of attention,” or “You know, its nice to be in charge of things.” But then reality hits me, and I realize that I am only a proclaimer, a prophet here to prepare the people for the One who is to come. I am a bug eater, a wild camel skin wearing weirdo whose entire goal in life is to point my finger at Someone Else.