John the Baptist knew who he was … and also who he wasn’t.
We are told in John 1 …
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. … And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” (John 1:6-8, 19-23 ESV)
John knew he wasn’t the Messiah but rather a voice, a finger pointing to the One Who was. He wasn’t the light, but He did come to bear witness about the light.
As we enter the third week of Advent, perhaps we can pause for a moment and remember who this season is NOT about … us.
In a culture that is self-focused, self-reliant, and self-______ (fill in the blank), we can quickly think this is all about us, our wants, our desires, what gifts we hope to get, us, us, me, me, me.
But this isn’t about me, or us, this is about Jesus. Period.
“… that in everything He might be preeminent” (Colossians 1:18).
What if we, like John, only bore witness to the Light, Jesus Himself (see John 8:12 and 9:5) throughout our lives and lips not just during this season, but every day?
Jesus is the Light of the world. May His light shine bright in and through our lives!
Know I’m cheering you down the Narrow Way of the Cross as you radiate the light and life of Christ!
—Nathan