John 1:19-23 (NRSV)
Read John 1:19-23 on biblegateway.com
Verse 19This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" Verse 20He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, "I am not the Messiah." Verse 21And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He answered, "No." Verse 22Then they said to him, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" Verse 23He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,'" as the prophet Isaiah said.
Devotion
The questioning of John's identity leads to John's adamant denial of what he is not. Whereas Jesus defines himself as "I AM," John is clear to say, "I am not." He is not the Messiah, Elijah or the Prophet. He is not the light that shines in the darkness. Yet, even in his resolute claims about who he is not, who he is, and why he is here, he is defined by and inseparable from the presence of the Word made flesh in his midst. Can we make similar claims about our identity and our purpose? Do we respond to "who are you?" with the same indivisibility with God and all that God wants us to be?
Prayer
God of love, help us to remember that we know who we are because of who you have created us to be, sheep of your flock, forever in your fold. Amen.