"... John the Baptist came..."
John had the spirit of Elijah. He was the word before the Word. John's ministry helped prepare others so that, when Jesus showed up, they would recognize him.
People often overlook the obvious. They need help to label things. They need others - like us - to say this is God, this is how he works, this is how he judges, this is your role in the relationship, that sort of thing. Otherwise, when the Messiah knocks, they may not know who is at the door.
Ben Sirach writes (concerning Elijah), "... You will come at the proper time, with rebukes to calm the wrath of God before it breaks forth in fury, to turn the heart of the father to the son." (Wisdom of Sirach 48:10)
Like Elijah, like John, like us...
Our jobs are to inform others that there IS a God, that he still loves them, that he is returning for them, and "these are the things you need to do" to make his path straight. Better they hear it from us before he returns, then to be blind-sighted by his fury when he returns.
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