1) Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 minutes)
2) Scripture Reading: John 1:19-28
- John the Baptist Denies Being the Messiah
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 the Baptist Denies Being the Messiah
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.
3) Devotional
Back in the 1990’s, many Christians began showing up to church with a new bracelet. At the time, it swept through youth groups and congregations across the country like wildfire. I am of course referring to the ‘WWJD’ fad- What Would Jesus Do?- the phrase which of course has its ultimate roots in Charles Sheldon’s book In His Steps.
Back in the 1990’s, many Christians began showing up to church with a new bracelet. At the time, it swept through youth groups and congregations across the country like wildfire. I am of course referring to the ‘WWJD’ fad- What Would Jesus Do?- the phrase which of course has its ultimate roots in Charles Sheldon’s book In His Steps.
For all of us who are Christians, becoming more like Christ in our thoughts and actions is a central focus as we journey through life, and it’s a good one. Sometimes, however, this focus can overstep its bounds, even if in a well-intentioned way. In our desire to see change in others or in the world around us, , we try to BE Jesus: to do all the things Jesus did, and in so doing, we overstep our humanity. In our encounter with John the Baptist in this passage, we find him emphatically stating: “I am NOT the Messiah” throughout its entire length. I am not Jesus. You are not Jesus. The simple fact is that we cannot often do what Jesus would do. We can’t save anyone or anything, and often, because of our fallen condition, we lack the morality or clarity to even see people or situations as they truly are. We CAN, however, trust in Jesus to be Jesus, and perhaps the real issue is our difficulty in trusting or releasing control of people and situations that are near to our hearts.
4) Questions to Consider: What areas of your life are you trying to be Jesus in, instead of letting Jesus be Jesus? Who, or what are you trying to save right now? How might you release control of these things to Christ and let him in peace be the one who saves, redeems, and restores?
5) Prayer: Lord Jesus, I desire to be more like you in thought, word, and deed, but I am not the Messiah. I recognize you as the only Savior of all and the only one who can bring real transformation in life’s difficulties. I release control today of the people and situations I am trying to ‘save,’ and I trust in you. Amen.
Conclude with Silence (2 minutes)
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