John the Baptist
Kimberly Hiles, Deaconess Candidate REC / Pentecost, 2024, Issue 11
On the North Porch of the Chartres Cathedral stands a statue that is etched in my memory. It is a depiction of John the Baptist cradling an image of the Agnus Dei, the Lamb of God. What touches me so deeply about the sculpture is not his emaciated figure (no doubt from his diet of choice) or the wildness of his beastly attire. It’s his face. More specifically, his eyes. His expression reveals an aching, a longing, a looking toward something that he does not yet have but waits for. Besides a look of peaceful adoration, the image perfectly captures the many nuances of John’s ministry, as revealed in the lectionary readings throughout the cycle of the Church year. While most saints are celebrated on the date of their death or martyrdom, Saint John the Baptist is one of the few saints whose nativity we celebrate (on June 24).
John is born through the miraculous intervention of God to aged, barren parents, both of whom come from priestly bloodlines. His ministry is a priestly one, and it fulfills prophecies from both Malachi and Isaiah. The aim of John’s life and mission are summed up by the prophet Isaiah in the Propers for the feast of Saint John the Baptist: “A voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God’.” As St. Augustine beautifully reminds us, John’s is The Voice that prepares us to receive The Word.
One of the most famous depictions of the crucifixion of Christ is by Matthias GrÜnewald, whose most recognized work is the Isenheim Altarpiece from the sixteenth century. One detail that often surprises viewers is the presence of John the Baptist to the left of the cross. He stands holding the Word in one hand and with his other hand, points poignantly to Christ. At John’s foot is a lamb holding a small cross that is itself bleeding into a chalice as John points to Jesus. Behind the Baptist, words are written which many people automatically assume read, “Behold the Lamb of God.” But upon further study, the words, “Illum oportet crescere, me autem minui” become clear: “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
To always point at someone else is, at the same time, to point away from oneself. John’s purpose, from conception forward, was in service to Jesus and His flock. May this beloved saint be a model for us as we live lives that point others to Christ. I have never been to Chartres Cathedral, but I long to look into the eyes of John the Baptist with my own eyes before I depart this earth. Until then, I pray the Lord will transform my whole being into one who bears the same humble selflessness as John. Like him, may each of us bear the persistent ache of an eternal longing.
“ALMIGHTY God, by whose providence thy servant John Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of thy Son our Saviour by preaching repentance; Make us so to follow his doctrine and holy life, that we may truly repent according to his preaching; and after his example constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer for the truth’s sake; through the same thy son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Kimberly is a healthcare professional and candidate for the office of Deaconess in the Reformed Episcopal Church.
