Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: What went you out into the desert to see? a reed shaken with the wind? But what went you out to see? a man clothed in soft garments? Behold they that are clothed in soft garments, are in the houses of kings. But what went you out to see? a prophet? yea I tell you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written: Behold I send my angel before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee. Amen I say to you, there hath not risen among them that are born of women a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is the lesser in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

John the Baptist, John the Forerunner, a voice crying in the wilderness. How marked we are by this strange man, living in the barren desert, clothed in a camel skin, living off the bitter locust and sweet honey. Christ himself puts it to the crowds, what did you go out to see? Not a man in soft living or a flatterer but another whose vision was so transfixed by the grandeur of God that he could do naught else but try to prepare the people for the coming messiah.

8 x 10”