Who are you?

 John1 6-8, 19 – 28 v 22 “Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?

No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Fathers heart. He has revealed God to us. The Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John “Who are you?”  John said, “I am not the Messiah”, not Elijah, not the Prophet. Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?

 He replied using the words from Isaiah “I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘clear the way for the Lord is coming.’” They then asked, “Why do you Baptize?” John replied, “right here in the crowd is someone you don’t recognize, I am not even worthy to be His slave and untie the straps of His sandal.

How often are we asked the question, “Who are you?” When meeting people for the first time I find I am a different person depending on the occasion. In my later years when on courses to learn new techniques I was asked by the younger people “are you the instructor?” “No, just another learner!” The priest and Temple assistants sent to ask John that same question, had some ideas as to who he was however the reply is sometimes complicated and the answer not what was expected. For crowds to be listening, and choosing to be baptized, meeting John was a lifechanging experience so the priest thought he must have been someone important in the Church hierarchy or history. No, just a voice shouting in the wilderness. They then asked, “Why do you do what you do?” John replied because here in the crowd is someone you don’t recognize. I am not worthy to untie the straps of His sandals.” John surprisingly said to devote Church staff that they would not recognize the One who was coming. But John knew how great He would be compared to anyone else on earth!

Who are you? And how great do you think Jesus is? As we journey again to the stable where He was born and are reminded of the things He brought to us, hope, peace, joy, and love who are you?

Prayer: Heavenly Father as we are reminded of the wonder of the birth of your Son, Jesus, help us to  understand who that makes us as we journey through life. Amen.