PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: John 1:19-28
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, ‘I am not the Messiah.’” (John 1:20)
John knew who he was, and who he was not.
As helpers of Jesus, we need to remember who we are, and who we’re not.
I am God’s child, I am Christ’s brother, I am filled with the Spirit of Jesus.
I am a Jesus follower, a witness to the Messiah, a worker for the kingdom.
But I am not the messiah.
Some people develop a savior complex for those they are trying to help.
They place expectations on themselves, and struggle to fulfill them.
They feel excessive responsibility for others, and take it as their own failure.
Or they encourage those they’re helping to rely too much on them.
I am not able to save a life, I am not able to fix the problem of sin.
I am a witness, I point to Jesus, I trust the Spirit to work through me.
I am not the messiah, people need to hope in Jesus, not in me.
I baptize with water, but Jesus baptizes with the Spirit!
Our job is to introduce them to Jesus, so they can reach out to him!
PRAYER
Lord, I am not you, but I can represent you to others. Help me not to stand in your way, but to help people see you, that they may know and rely on you!
“I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’” John is the one who calls – a herald – an announcer the advance party – because an important person is coming. Like the police preparing the way for an important entourage coming through. John preaches repentance – turning from sin for the person who will take that sin and carry it like the scapegoat away from the people is coming – the Messiah – Jesus. I’m thinking, how was I called? What made me want to open the door for Jesus to come into my life – what voices/what calling went on that led me to Jesus. What water was used to make me realize the need for cleanliness – to leave my own sin and ego behind? The prophets foretold that John would come first to announce the coming of the Messiah. It happened! Help me like John to tell people about the way to the ‘one way’: Jesus.
Who am I?
I am a child of the King.
I am Christian, a follower of the Lamb.
I am His witness, doing His will.
I am a Christian showing my love that He has given me by my actions and words.
I am a channel of His peace.
Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there is hatred let me bring your love.
Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord
And where there’s doubt, true faith in you.
Make me a channel of your peace
Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope
Where there is darkness, only light
And where there’s sadness, ever joy.
Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul.
Make me a channel of your peace
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
In giving to all men that we receive
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.
Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul.
Make me a channel of your peace
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
In giving to all men that we receive
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.