In 1936, Dale Carnegie published his award-winning book, "How To Win Friends and Influence People." There are four chapters.

1. Fundamental Techniques in Handling People
2. Six Ways to Make People Like You
3. How to Win People to Your Way of Thinking
4. Be a Leader: How to Change People Without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment

It’s doubtful John the Baptizer ever read Mr. Carnegie’s book. During this Advent season, the Scripture lessons have directed our attention toward this rough and holy man. Why? Because he prepared the Jewish people for the coming of Jesus the Messiah.

As we’ve listened to John the Baptizer, some of us have squirmed. Other have winced. Some people think he lacked tact. After all, he was fearless is calling the Jews to repent of their sins.

Matthew 3:7-9 "But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9and do not think to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones."

What kind of man does it take to call powerbrokers to repentance? It takes a prophet. It takes someone who cares more about what God thinks than what his peers think. John was fearless. He startled and shocked the religious leaders of his day. He used violent language to awaken the people of Palestine from their spiritual slumber.

Transition: But not only was he fearless, he was also spiritually perceptive.

John 1:29 "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" Verse 35 "Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. ³⁶And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!"

That word means to gaze or fix your eyes upon someone. On the morning of September 11th most of us has our eyes fixed upon New York’s World Trade Centers. We gazed at the tragedy unfolding in front of us.

John gazed at Jesus with the same intensity. He fixed his eyes upon Him. He studied Him. Then he erupted, "Behold! God’s sacrificial lamb that takes away the sins of the world." John the Baptizer came to point an accusing finger at religious hypocrites and to redirect their attention to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Transition: John the Baptizer’s ministry, his life, is summed up in the St. John 3:30 "He must increase, but I must decrease." What he’s saying is this, "Lord as I grow older I want to grow lower. Give me grace to grow in humility that I might grow downward! I want more people to see you not me." Those are the words of a humble man.

Transition: Here’s a man that does all of the right things. He waited patiently for Jesus. He announced His coming. He baptized His Lord in the Jordan River. He continued to point people to Jesus. Then he’s slapped in chains and thrown in prison, left there to wait. And he waits.

And he waits for His deliverer. And He waits some more, but silence. He waits for Christ to rescue him, but nothing. Is he still the forerunner who was prophesized about in Malachi? Yes. Is he still the greatest in the kingdom, as Jesus said?

Yes, but in the gospel lesson for today, we’re told that John joins that longs list of people who were placed in the uncomfortable position of waiting for God.

Noah and his family floated aimlessly in the ark for 150 days (Gen. 7:24). What do you suppose his leather face could teach us about waiting?

Joseph was betrayed and forgotten in an Egyptian prison. (Gen. 39:20) If we could look into his tired eyes, what lessons could they teach us about being patient?

After the Passover, the Israelites stood trembling on the shore of the Red Sea. Pharaoh’s army was quickly closing in on them and it looked as if disaster was imminent. If those Israelites could speak to us today, what story about patience would they tell?

Naomi was the great-grandmother of King David. But after being obedient and faithful to God, she lost her husband and two sons. (Ruth 1:3; 5) What do her muffled sobs and sad sighs tell us about waiting on the Lord?

As we try to imagine the small army of Gideon standing before the Midianite hoard, what would that band of brave soldiers say to us about being patient and waiting for God’s timing?

Perhaps Queen Esther could teach us something about patience. She received news that her husband the king ordered the slaughter of her people the Jews. But she watched with surprise as God intervened and destroyed the enemy. Do you suppose Esther could share some timely advice about our circumstances?

Illustration: Flood lights at San Jacinto Baptist Church

I believe John the Baptizer and all those who preceded him are like those lights. They were lights who directed people’s attention to The Light. He was bold not for boldness’ sake but to help men take their eyes off themselves and redirect their gaze toward Christ.

This morning, the light of the world gives Himself to you so you in turn can refract Him in a dark world that is in desperate need of light. May God give us grace to continue faithfully waiting for Him. Amen

The black adder called Highway 1061 slithers its way Northwest towards Boys Ranch. It takes you to Boys Ranch. When you’re about 5-6 miles away from Cal Farley’s you top a hill called LS Hill. If you’re traveling at night you’ll reach the crest immediately see the chapel. It’s shimmering white. Set against the black backdrop of the night the glistens in the brilliant flood light lights. But the flood lights are hidden by shrubbery.