John the Baptist is widely regarded as the last great prophet of the Old Testament. In Eastern iconography John is portrayed with wings! Let’s look into this idea as we celebrate this midpoint in Advent.

John the Baptist is the divine messenger who prepared the way for Christ as the prophets Isaiah and Malachi foretold. The Greek word for messenger is evangelos. This is where we get evangelist and angel, the bearer of good news. Hence, the image of wings. Yet, wouldn’t this suggest that all great prophets get their wings?

The idea of wings for prophets belongs only to John. The Gospels open with the unborn John giving witness to his cousin as the Messiah. He leaps for joy in his mother’s womb as Mary comes to greet Elizabeth.

Jesus explicitly told the people of the greatness John. He said, “among those born of women there is no one greater than John” (Luke 7:28; Matthew 11:11).

Through his preaching, baptism of conversion, and martyrdom he gave great witness to Christ.

The sentiments of the Baptist have been put into musical expression like in Handel’s Messiah:

While other Old Testament prophets spoke about the coming Messiah, John the Baptist was the one who directly introduced Jesus to the people, fulfilling the prophecy of the messenger who would go before the Lord.

In a real way, the Baptist becomes the angel of the desert, the first monastic desert father who gave up worldly pleasures, made sacrifices, and prepared the way of the Lord. This imagery of wings is symbolic, not a literal claim that he had physical wings, and serves to highlight his unique role as the one who prepared the way of the Lord.

In this midpoint of Advent, how are we preparing the way of the Lord? Advent is like wearing cancellation earplugs to the heart. We have to cancel the noise around us, listen attentively with the heart, and be ready to welcome the Lord when he comes.