In 1515, artist and painter Matthias Grünewald completed the Isenheim Altar. Today, you can see this masterpiece of pre-Reformation art in the Musée d'Unterlinden in the Alsatian town of Colmar (France).

The centerpiece of the altar depicts Jesus' death on the cross. On the left side of the cross, we see a small group of people: Mary, the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and the disciple whom Jesus loved. But I want to focus on the person to the right: John the Baptizer. 

Of course, historically, his presence at Jesus' crucifixion is an anachronism. But theologically, it is quite fitting and significant since John pointed during his ministry to Jesus, the coming Messiah, who would proclaim the righteousness of God. 

The Church's calendar commemorates the birth of John the Baptizer on June 24. Once Jesus' birthday was established in the fourth century, all one had to do was to count six months backwards in order to arrive at John's birthday. In addition to the celebration of John's birthday, there are only two other birthdays on the Church's feast-day calendar: that of Jesus' mother on September 8 and of Jesus himself (December 25). Usually, the Church remembers saints and martyrs on the date of their death – the day, on which they entered into eternal glory.

John the Baptizer is typically recognized as the last of the prophets, and in this role he connects the Old and the New Testaments.

According to Luke's Gospel, John and Jesus were related to each other through their mothers. The birth of John was miraculously foretold to his parents Elizabeth and Zechariah, who came from a priestly family. When he was born, the name John was given to him; it means “God's gracious gift.” When John grew up, he went into the wilderness near the Jordan River. There he began to preach about repentance and the importance of baptismal washing.

Because he criticized the immoral life of King Herod Antipas, John was arrested, imprisoned, andeventually beheaded. John was not only the forerunner of Jesus'  ministry. He also was Jesus' precursor in death. They both share the fate of a violent death. (The commemoration of John's death is observed on August 29. The relic of his right hand, with which he had baptized Jesus, is kept at a Serbian Orthodox monastery in Cetinje, Montenegro.)

John's ministry began before Jesus' public ministry. Jesus has given us the power of the Holy Spirit so that we can continue his ministry until he comes again.

In the meantime we do right to consider John's attitude (as it is depicted in Matthias Grünewald's altarpiece), who said about himself, “I must decrease;” and about Jesus, “He must increase” (cf. John 3:30). By decreasing in rank, we also assume John's posture, as we too are to point to the One who has called us with these words, “Follow me!”

Jesuit scholar John R. Donahue summarizes it quite well when he suggests that we as Christians should become “'another John,' favored by God, called to become strong in the spirit, to speak with courage against evil in the world and, perhaps, even as we complete our course, to ponder if we really did prepare for the one who is to come.”

Yours in Christ Jesus,

Bjoern E. Meinhardt, Pastor