Sunday, January 2, 2005 Tone 6
Sunday before Theophany; Seraphim of Sarov
2nd Vespers of Circumcision: Proverbs 8:22-30 Epistle: 2 Timothy 4:5-8 Gospel: St. Mark 1:1-8
St. Mark 1:1-8 NKJ, especially vs. 6: "Now John was clothed with camel's hair and with a
leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey." How shall we understand strange, austere John the
Forerunner? He steps into history for a moment, inaugurating the Lord Jesus' ministry. His dress, diet, manner of
teaching, and use of ritual baptism for repentance form a dramatic portrait. He is not someone that we would likely meet
on the street. The Evangelist Mark announces "the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God," but notice: he
immediately shifts attention to John. Who was this man? Why did he dress and eat as he did? Why does St. Mark focus on
him at the beginning of his Gospel?
St. Mark 1:2-3 are ancient prophecies concerning God's "Messenger" - three Old Testament verses woven together: Ex.
23:20, Mal. 3:1, and Isaiah 40:3. Scholars during first century Judaism accepted the prediction of the coming of the
Messiah in these verses. For them, the appearance of the "Messenger of the Covenant" would signal the dawning of the
age of the Messiah, of the coming of the Christ, and many saw St. John as that Forerunner of the Messiah.
St. John's dress and actions conveyed another message - the imminent return of the Prophet Elijah. Holy Scripture
described Elijah as "...an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins" (2 Kings 1:8), and that was how St.
John dressed (vs. 6)! In those days Jewish scholars had concluded that Elijah would precede the Messiah as a "Messenger"
because he was the greatest of all the Prophets. Why? Nine centuries before, Elijah had ascended into heaven in a fiery
chariot. Hence, his return would signal a unique moment of history.
In the fourth century of the Christian era, St. John Chrysostom observed this about the Forerunner: "It was a marvelous and
strange thing to behold so great austerity in a human frame: which things also particularly attracted the Jews, seeing in him
the great Elijah." Our Lord Himself confirmed all these things about John: "Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all
things. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt?
But I say to you that Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him" (Mk. 9:12-13).
Thus, John was a key actor in God's eternal plan, fulfilling a significant part of the Divine prophecy concerning Elijah and
the Messiah.
Consider another aspect of St. John's behavior. The Forerunner's lifestyle followed the tradition of many ancient Prophets
of Israel. Often the Prophets lived apart from the normal rounds of human activity (2 Kngs. 6:1-7). An example of this
may be found in a published account of the life of the Prophet Isaiah. It is reported that, because of the lawlessness of the
people, Isaiah withdrew from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. Later, when the men of Bethlehem also proved to be wicked, he
withdrew even further south into the desert. There, with a company of men, he settled on a solitary mountain, again, apart
from society. The entire community wore garments of hair to signify their life as Prophets. They ate a diet of wild foods
from the desert.
Let us understand: for the people of the first century, the Forerunner's preference for life in the wilderness marked him as a
Prophet. As the Lord Jesus Himself said, "But what went ye out for to see? A Prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than
a Prophet..." (Mt. 11:8-9). As a Prophet, St. John foretold the greatest work of the Lord's ministry, "He will baptize you
with the Holy Spirit" (Mk. 1:8). Finally, we also must count St. John as the Messiah's Messenger, as fulfilling part of
Elijah's work, and as the greatest among the Prophets preparing for Christ.
Behold, the Hope of Israel hath come. Serve, O Prophet, thou lamp for the Light, the dawn of the Sun, the righteousness of
the Bridegroom, the Forerunner of the Word.
