The View From The Desert

In 1987 I drove from Pasadena, CA through the desert to the Grand Canyon. Thanks to modern technology, people can now enjoy living in the desert. However,when John the Baptist took up residence in the desert, life was not as easy. I believe his life in the desert complimented his message. The desert represents the entire world without Christ. A dark place with great potential, a place needing a transformation. Because John lived in the desert, he saw this need. He said, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way of the Lord.' (John 1:23)" God told John how to recognize Christ (John 1:33-34). He knew that Jesus was needed for the transformation to take place. He knew Jesus was not an ordinary man but the Son of God (John 1:29,34,35). Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council and teacher of the law (John 3:1,10) only saw Jesus as a teacher (John 1:2). It's only when we see Jesus for who he is, that the transformation takes place and we can say as John said, "He must become greater and I must become less (John 3:30). May God give us eyes to see this need and may we see Jesus in the eyes of others.