John 1:6-8,19-28 (NRSV)
Read John 1:6-8,19-28 on biblegateway.com
Verse 6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. Verse 7He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. Verse 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.
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. Verse 24Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. Verse 25They asked him, "Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?" Verse 26John answered them, "I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, Verse 27the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal." Verse 28This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.
Devotion
Recently, a close friend bought me a new pair of sandals. They are easy to tighten on my foot because of the Velcro® straps.
John the Baptist said he could not untie Jesus' sandals (John 1:27). This was not because the leather thongs were in a knot. Rather, it was because Jesus was holy. This made John feel unworthy.
The feeling of being unworthy is a rare commodity these days. Yet, when we come near to what is holy, perhaps we should pause. When in the presence of God, feeling unworthy is to be expected.
On Thursday of what we call Holy Week, Jesus untied the sandals of his disciples and washed their feet (John 13). I wonder if this made the disciples feel worthy. Curiously, the holy becomes unholy so that we feel worthy. As Advent waits for Christmas, we wait for the holy God to come and declare us worthy.
Prayer
God of grace and love, we thank you for thinking of us as worthy of the incarnation and the gift of salvation. Guide us to treat each other as worthy. Amen.