OLD TESTAMENT: Ezekiel 21 & 22
POETRY: Psalm 123
NEW TESTAMENT: John 1:19-34
Last week in the United States we had our election for President. For months people campaigned on behalf of the candidates. There were debates, speeches, and interviews.
2000 years ago in Israel, there were questions surrounding potential leaders. One man who had developed a large following drew interest in from the leaders who sent religious leaders to question who he was. He made it clear who he was not.
John 1:19-34
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.
John Testifies About Jesus
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”
32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”
John made clear that he was not the one, he was not the Messiah, the King. John made it clear that Jesus was the true King. God himself declared that Jesus was revealed to be the savior of the world. Jesus was God’s chosen. He was God’s sacrificial lamb who would take away the sins of the world.
John was a man of great humility. He did not pursue power and glory. His call was to witness the truth about God’s true savior.
Presidents come and go, but Jesus is the true Messiah and Savior. Just as John in all humility pointed people to Jesus, let us all point to Jesus as our savior and king.
Pastor Jeff Fletcher
Reflection Questions
- What characteristics of John do you admire? What makes a good Christian leader?
- What evidence did John have that Jesus was God’s Chosen One – God’s Messiah?
- Like John, how can you prepare people to meet Jesus? How can you introduce Jesus to your friends/co-workers/neighbors?
Seek Grow Love 