John 1:19-34 | Psalm 10:17-18
John (the Baptist1) can be confusing.
He certainly was a unique individual. He loved to use metaphors. And while he is featured in each gospel story, his appearance is quick. But his role is clear: prepare the way of the Lord by making his paths straight.
John 1:19-34
This is John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?”
John confessed (he didn’t deny but confessed), “I’m not the Christ.”
They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”
John said, “I’m not.”
“Are you the prophet?”
John answered, “No.”
They asked, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
John replied,
“I am a voice crying out in the wilderness,
Make the Lord’s path straight,
just as the prophet Isaiah said.”
Those sent by the Pharisees asked, “Why do you baptize if you aren’t the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?”
John answered, “I baptize with water. Someone greater stands among you, whom you don’t recognize. He comes after me, but I’m not worthy to untie his sandal straps.” This encounter took place across the Jordan in Bethany where John was baptizing.
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one about whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is really greater than me because he existed before me.’ Even I didn’t recognize him, but I came baptizing with water so that he might be made known to Israel.” John testified, “I saw the Spirit coming down from heaven like a dove, and it rested on him. Even I didn’t recognize him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit coming down and resting is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and testified that this one is God’s Son.”
Psalm 10:17-18
Lord, you listen to the desires of those who suffer.
You steady their hearts;
you listen closely to them,
to establish justice
for the orphan and the oppressed,
so that people of the land
will never again be terrified.
Prayer
God,
I don’t anticipate baptizing anyone today. But like Elijah, may your way be clear wherever I go. Give me boldness to go where people wouldn’t normally go. Give me the audacity to do what people wouldn’t normally do. May people hear my voice as it speaks to your name. And may I have the courage to go as far as he did in the face of religious adversity and political intolerance.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.
John the Baptist in the text today is a different individual than John the Apostle, whose tradition is said to have written the gospel of John that we’re reading.