John 1: 6-8, 19-28
There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness of the light.
Now this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Christ.”
They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”
He said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?”
He answered, “No.”
Finally they asked, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’ ”
Now some Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
“I baptize with water,” replied John, “but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”
This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
A Thought
John was obedient to the call that God had given to him to prepare the way for the light of Jesus Christ by preaching repentance and baptism. So many were responding to John’s message and being baptized that Jewish priests and Levites were sent to find out who John was, whether the Christ? Elijah? The Prophet? The testimony of John was that he was the fulfillment for the word spoken by Isaiah to prepare the way for the Lord. John testified that he only baptized with water and that one comes after him whose sandals he is not worthy to even untie.
Our Prayer
Father you have called each of us to give our personal testimony of Jesus Christ’s life, death and resurrection. Help us to be obedient in the same manner as John to prepare the way of Christ’s return. Awaken us to know that Christ is coming again. Help us to be alert as we watch and pray. We ask in Jesus’ name, amen.
