I’M NOT HIM

READ: John 1:19-34

ANSWER THIS: If someone sought your advice about a difficult situation they’re facing, how would you respond?

THE BREAKDOWN

John the Baptist’s mother must have told him throughout his life, “You’re going to do great things when you grow up!” But, John has no delusion he’s the Savior the Jews have been waiting for. Rather, he knows his purpose in life is to point people to the Savior.

So, in fulfillment of a prophecy, spoken by a man named Isaiah hundreds of years before John’s birth (see Isaiah 40:3), John sets out to tell people about the coming Messiah. He tells the crowds that the one who was born after him, and whose public ministry will begin after his, actually existed long before he did. While a bit confusing, John is basically saying Jesus is the Messiah, who existed before creation.

John speaks these words in the presence of the religious experts, and they’re not at all pleased. He tells his listeners the Messiah is actually standing among them and points to Jesus saying, “I testify that this is the Chosen One of God,” an offensive statement to the religious experts, who considered it blasphemy.

John makes it very clear that Jesus is the Messiah, not him, and points out that God, who was once invisible, would now reveal Himself through Jesus. In other words, if you wanted to know what God is like, all you need to do is listen to and get to know Jesus.

John gladly accepts his primary role in life is to point people to Jesus, not himself. One biblical scholar described John as “more interested in doing good than appearing great.”

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

In the movie Rudy, the title character wants to attend Notre Dame and play on their football team. But, there are insurmountable odds against him. He comes from a blue-collar family and doesn’t have the money for tuition. His dyslexia makes studying difficult, and he doesn’t have the grades for a scholarship. Plus, he doesn’t have the physical stature to play college football.

At the height of his frustration, he asks a priest for some advice. In response, the priest, Father Cavanaugh, tells Rudy, "Son, in 35 years of religious study, I have only come up with two hard incontrovertible facts: There is a God, and I'm not Him."

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR ME?

We would be wise to follow Father Cavanaugh’s and John the Baptist’s examples. When someone comes to us for advice, or they just need to share about something difficult they’re going through, we should listen intently, and take the posture of “There is a God, and I’m not Him.” Then point them to Jesus for help and guidance in their situation.

PRAYER

"Lord, there are times when I’m in over my head - when someone asks me for my opinion, or what I would suggest they should do in a really difficult situation. Remind me to point them to Jesus for help and guidance, rather than trying to fix their problems on my own.”