WHO ARE YOU?

John 1:19-23
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

The Testimony of John the Baptist

19 This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you?” 20 He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.”

21 “Well then, who are you?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?”

“No,” he replied.

“Are you the Prophet we are expecting?”

“No.”

22 “Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?”

23 John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah:

“I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’”

John the Baptist was doing something that was shaking up the religious authorities. He had a message from God and unlike those Jewish priests, he was not confining his message to those who showed up in the Temple. John was preaching and prophesying and baptizing wherever he encountered people. The Jewish leaders sent emissaries to him to ask, “Who are you?”.

What about you? How do you share your faith? Where do you share your faith? Does the way you share your faith ever shake things up? Would anyone ever have to ask, “Who are you?”. I hope so.

And I hope your answer would be like John the Baptist. “It’s not about me … I am just “…a voice shouting in the wilderness. ‘Clear the way for the Lord’s coming’…” back again!.