Our scripture this morning is John 1:29-34.
On 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, ‘After me comes a man who is greater than I am, because he existed before me.’ I did not recognize him, but I came baptizing with water so that he could be revealed to Israel.” Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending like a dove from heaven, and it remained on him. And I did not recognize him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining – this is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ I have both seen and testified that this man is the Chosen One of God.
I remember singing an anthem with my choir as a teen called “Heralds of Christ” (and if anyone from the Omaha St. Paul Youth Choir of the 70s is still out there, bless you!) This is John’s gift and his task, to point people to Jesus. If we listen carefully, it is our task as well.
When God sent Jesus He used angels to tell Mary and Joseph and later sent angels to the shepherds and a star to the wise men. For everyone else, He sent John the Baptist, a voice crying in the wilderness “Prepare the way of the Lord!” Scripture says of John “He himself was not the light, but he came to testify about the light” – John 1:8. This statement applies to all of us, we are here to testify to others about the light.
This is the ultimate “it’s not about us” statement, but it’s only because of us that Jesus came to earth. We were lost in sin with no hope of saving ourselves. Jesus came to love and save and free us and now we go in His name to share the Good News.
Loving Lord, we are thankful for the greatest gift of all, Your son Jesus Christ. Bless us to carry Your love to all Your children. Amen.
