The Twelve: Baptizer

He first showed up on the banks of the Mississippi River, near Wood River, Illinois. He was calling himself simply “The Baptizer,” but it was known that his name was John. His father had been a pastor of a small country church, indeed, his whole family line had been preachers going back to the days of Lincoln. His great great grandfather had built one of the first churches in the area west of the Big River.

John was dressed like no conventional preacher, in fact, if you’d seen him drunk on a street corner of New York City, you likely wouldn’t have turned so much as an eye. His beard was scraggled and hung down well below the collar of the army surplus jacket he wore, covering the layers of cast of t-shirts and old college sweaters. His pants were torn and stained cargos, the back left pocket completely removed, while he leaned on a makeshift walking stick, covered with various stickers and bumper decals. He had a strange smell about him, likely from the cold canned beans and occasional MREs that made up the majority of his diet. He’d be any common beggar, if it weren’t for his eyes.

He’d look at you with this penetrating stare, and deep inside you’d feel like he was looking directly into your soul. Then he’d say something like he’d read your mail, knowing exactly what your fears, concerns, or hopes were, sometimes before you could even vocalize them. At first, he just stopped people in town for random conversation. They’d assume he was looking for money, until he’d tell them “The Kingdom of God is coming,” then proceed to list their sins and tell them to be prepared. After a while, he had enough of a following that he moved to the riverside and offering to baptize any who wished to repent, telling them that he was laying the pathway for the Kingdom to Come.

One day a group of ministers from the city came to see him, as he’d been getting a following online. Their youth groups had been wearing thin as kids were spending their time going out to watch John instead of going to the services, which mean their parents were often not going either, which hit the minister’s pocket books.

When they arrived, John cried out to them, “You snakes! You vipers! Who told you to come and hide from the coming storm? The destruction is coming, and those who fail to measure up will be cast into fire! What would you do to hide yourselves? Dress in fine suits? Cast yourselves in front of the closest TV camera? You can say to the tabloids all you like how you are ‘godly people,’ but the one who knows what is in your heart is coming, and he will usher you into the flames!” The ministers went away in disgust at their treatment, claiming he was insane and threatening to call the authorities for his “protection.” After they left, the people looked to John and asked, “but what should we do?”

Pointing at one man standing in the crowd, John shouted, “you! You have food and clothing, go now and share what you have with the poor.”  A drug dealer came forward and said, “and what about me?” John replied “take what funds you have, and go find those you have poisoned. Give them homes and food to eat. Give them strength to find their freedom, and hold their hands in their times of pain to come.” A police officer stood up and said “what about me?” John answered, “protect those you have been placed with, use no force where unnecessary, and serve only with kindness and love.”

While he was speaking, Jesus came into the crowd, but did not say anything. John sited him and screamed.

“LOOK! I told you I was only a voice in the wilderness, calling for the path to be made, but here stand the lamb of God! One who’s shoes I am not fit to tie!” John ran forward in the water, splashing and tearing his way through the mud, throwing himself at Jesus’ feet. “My Lord!” he cried, “I am ready for you to make me clean! Free me from my burdens!”

Leaning down to touch him, Jesus said “No, John. The time has come for me to be baptized. You have made the road ready for me, but I will have your blessing first.” John stared at him, perplexed, but he stood and did as Jesus asked, baptizing him in the waters of the Mississippi, and praying over him. It was at that moment that a bright light exploded from the sky. Some said they heard a voice, but some said it was only noise. John later claimed the voice said “This is my son and my heir. I am proud of him.”

Jesus then went away into the wilderness.