The person who wears clothes made with camel’s hair,
ties a leather belt around his waist,
eats locusts and wild honey in the wilderness, and (1)
has slept under the blanket of the stars,
he shouts, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
The one who Isaiah the prophet prophesied about:
“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way—a voice of one calling in the desert,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him,’” (2)
he shouts, “I have baptized you with water;
but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” (3)
The prophet who Herod, the king, hates
as he kills him for pointing out the king’s fault, (4)
whose head is chopped off for the king’s party,
proclaims “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near. (5)
The ax is already lying at the roots of the trees.” (6)
The Baptist who baptized Jesus of Nazareth
says, “I baptize you with water for repentance,
but after me will come one who is more powerful than me.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (7)
I am not the Messiah. (8)
“He must become greater; I must become less.” (9)
Rev. Yong Sub Sim
Poem based on John 3:30
(1) Mark 1:6
(2) Mark 1:2-3
(3) Mark 1:8
(4) Matthew 14:1-12
(5) Matthew 3:2
(6) Matthew 3:10
(7) Matthew 3:11
(8) John 1:20
(9) John 3:30
Image by Adam Derewecki from Pixabay.
