The Bible (in Luke 3:1-6) says the following: “Tiberius Caesar had been ruling for 15 years. Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea. Herod was the ruler of Galilee. His brother Philip was the ruler of Iturea and Traconitis. Lysanias was ruler of Abilene. Annas and Caiaphas were high priests. At that time God’s word came to John, son of Zechariah, in the desert.”
Interesting! The text references the high and mighty, the rich and powerful, the large and in-charge. The text talks about those who in power in politics, economy, academia, and religion. And yet “God’s word” came not to them, but to John – and wilderness wild man.
We long for the trappings of powwer because that’s where we think the action is to be found. But the text puts the “action” out in the wilderness.
I wonder why! Could it be that in the wilderness it takes radicaly faith and courage to survive? Could it be that a wilderness wild man’s primary connection will be to God? And could it be that when this is the case – when your life flows from God – that peace is a reality that person’s heart; that anxiety is never a controlling factor; and that you realize that you have nothing and no one to fear because that person knows God is ultimately in charge.
