David Bahn – Reflections

John 1:20-28

And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” ²⁰ He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” ²¹ And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” ²² So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”²³ He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

²⁴ (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) ²⁵ They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” ²⁶ John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, ²⁷ even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” ²⁸ These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Jesus could be strongly challenging and confrontational as well as deeply compassionate and merciful. It all depended on the needs of those with whom he was speaking as those needs related to his mission. With the proud and self-righteous he was confrontational. With the humble and needy he was merciful.

On this occasion John has already adopted such an approach toward those who have come out to check him out. They want answers. John gives them non-answers. On another occasion, John’s disciples ask about Jesus and he gives them a straight answer: He must increase, I must decrease. Here, however, he will simply put aside any identification other than that of being the one who was calling people to prepare for God’s coming.

No one likes to be put in a box. I sometimes even bristle when I am asked to check a box indicating my ethnicity. Truth be told, I would much rather be known as a voice for God than anything else. That has not changed so far in my sabbatical time. I’ve enjoyed time with family, photographic outings, revisiting my home town places of interest, and some down time. All the while I’m looking for opportunity for God to speak through me.

I’m certain I don’t qualify for John the Baptist status. But I do want to claim God’s calling in my life, and have an answer for those who ask who I am. I am a man richly blessed by God and a servant of Jesus’ kingdom. That’s a bit heavy; perhaps I’ll learn to say simply, “I am someone who is trying to learn to follow Jesus.”