Explaining Yourself
Opening Prayer
Lord, help me to grasp that I can only explain myself truthfully in relation to You who have given me life.
Read JOHN 1:19–28
19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”
21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”
He said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?”
He answered, “No.”
22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”
24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
26 “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”
28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
Our life task is not to point others toward us but toward Jesus.
Think Further
What do you say when someone asks who you are? That is the situation John the Baptist faced. The religious leaders sent a delegation to John because he was baptizing fellow Jews in the wilderness (8). According to Mark 1:4,5, John preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins—and people flocked to him. Such a ministry would raise troublesome questions for the Temple authorities in Jerusalem. First, why do Jews need baptizing? Only proselytes needed that. Second, forgiveness was mediated in the Temple by the priests, not in the wilderness by a recluse. Third, other revolutionary movements had started in the wilderness and John was attracting a following. The Jewish authorities had to ensure that John was not going to be a threat to them or start a revolution against the Romans.
In response to the delegation’s persistent questioning, John explains that he is not an end-time figure like the Messiah, nor is he Elijah (Mal. 4:5) or the Prophet-like- Moses (Deut. 18:15–18). With the words of Isaiah 40:3, John says that he is the prophetic voice announcing Israel’s coming restoration. Next, the delegation questions John’s authority to baptize. John does not answer this question; instead, he stresses the importance of Jesus. John explains himself truthfully and he does so in relation to the one who is the Truth.
I remember when I became a Christian and started in a new job. I was afraid to pray before my meals and tell others that I was a follower of Jesus. After two years, I was promoted to another department and I was determined to show from the outset that I was a Christian. It was not always easy and I faced some ridicule, but I also had many opportunities to testify about Jesus.
Apply
How do you explain yourself in relation to Jesus to family, friends and colleagues?
Closing prayer
Lord, I want to be a clear signpost to You. As I journey through each day, I need Your wisdom and courage infusing and infilling me for the task.
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