David Bahn – Reflections

Light from the Word and through the lens

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In 1968 Jerry Snell opened a door in the hallway outside our first hour chemistry class. He invited me into what I discovered was a darkroom. Soon I was on the school newspaper and annual staff as a photographer. Later I learned that Jerry was a Lutheran who was planning to become a pastor. A few years later I was not only a Lutheran, but I was heading off to seminary to become a Lutheran pastor, too. Jerry followed a year later and served as a pastor in Missouri until his untimely heart attack and death. I thank God for Jerry and enjoy photography still today – not to mention rejoicing in having served as a Lutheran pastor in congregations in Utah, Colorado, Arkansas and Texas. I’ve retired now and serve part time as a Congregational Support Specialist for the Texas District of the LCMS. I also provide coaching and leadership training through various PLI cohorts and with individual congregations and organizations. David Bahn is a follower of Jesus Christ, husband to Diane, father and grandfather. He is an avid amateur photographer. His photo website is “Flowers by God Photos by David” He also publishes a devotional blog DavidBahn-Reflections.com. He and Diane live in Cypress Texas and enjoy visiting their grandchildren who live in the United States and Germany. He graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in 1979, and earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1991. Diane, his wife, is now retired from PLI (PLIleadership.org). They have offered presentations on Marriage and Ministry Partnership, Leadership, Changing Your Congregation’s Culture, and Missional Living. They look are working with PLI International training pastors and wives of the ELVD Diocese of the Lutheran Church of Tanzania. David’s personal mission statement is “Leading people to realize Jesus’ calling and plans for their lives.”

Give us a sign!

John 1:29-34

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

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There are times in most people’s lives when we want some assurance that we are on the right path. We want to know that a job offer will be good for us. We want to have some assurance that a decision we are making will be a good one. We may even want to know that a particular person is worthy of our trust – investment advisor, insurance salesman, car salesman, or future spouse!

John was given a sign that Jesus was the Savior of the world – the most important trust relationship of all. To think that one man could take away the sin of the would is remarkable. The sign that Jesus was that One was the Spirit’s descending and remaining on Jesus. This seems a small sign for such a large issue. That one man can be the Savior of the world is a big deal. That God would seal that truth by means of a dove seems almost out of balance.

Thankfully that’s not the only sign that Jesus is the Savior of the world. There is the matter of his miracles, his teaching, his sacrificial suffering and death, and his resurrection from the dead. It seems important to me, however, that these signs are not consumerist sales jobs. Jesus does not set out on some PR scheme or taylor his bonafides to the whims of the people of his day. The power of the signs pointing to Jesus are his actual identity and faithful work. The signs are not the point in and of themselves. They point us to the One who is the Son of God.

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