Who Are You?
John 1:6-8, 19-28 ESV
There was a man sent
from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear
witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was
not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
And this is
the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from
Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny,
but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What
then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?”
And he answered, “No.” 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?” 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.”
(Now they had been sent
from the Pharisees.) They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if
you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John answered
them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he
who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” These
things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
What matters is not what we do as
humans. What matters is what God does.
In this passage of scripture; John’s
purpose in life is to give witness to the Light. And that Light that John
witnesses to is Jesus. John is here to point the world to the Light of God made
flesh in Jesus. And in this action, John sets the example for the purpose of
the Church through all ages. The purpose of the Church, is to give testimony,
to lead all the people to receive the faith that God gives freely, to lead each
and all of us to believe in the loving grace of God in Jesus. That grace that
turns us from our sinful natures to face God in our sin and receive eternal
life with God forever.
It sounds too simple. And it really is,
for the Church and all people. After all, God does all the work and we do all
the receiving. Any action we take in order to receive from God is an action
that leads us away from God and into ourselves. God does not call us to act in
order to receive his saving grace. God gives freely and we act not to receive. We
do not merit grace by doing good works. We receive grace because it is God’s
will.
Ephesians 2:10 ESV
For we are his
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God
prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Remember, Paul had just written…
Ephesians 2:8 ESV
For by grace you have been saved through faith.
And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
So, this faith, this gift from God; is the only means by
which we have forgiveness of our sin. It’s not some work we do or decision we
make to be forgiven. All the work is God’s. And all the receiving is in us.
So, what about the “good works” stuff?
In our baptism, God comes to us. Baptism is God’s work… not
mine, our yours or anyone’s. In baptism, we receive the Holy Spirit through the
faith God freely gives to us. Our hearts are renewed and we are given new
direction and a new way of living. We are free from the power of sin in our
lives.
We aren’t free from sin, just yet. We will still sin. But
we are free from the power of sin to bring eternal death. So, we have new
affections in life. We have a new purpose. And that purpose is able to bring
forth good works.
Aw! Come on! Many of us were babies at our baptism! How can
this be?
Well… like I said above. In baptism, God comes to us and
gives us new life. God gives and we receive. We don’t need to understand, we
don’t need to decide a thing. We receive.
And it’s like this with forgiveness. John’s baptism was a
baptism of repentance. A calling out of our sin that we may turn back to the
God that wants so much to give that we may receive.
We need God. And in God’s baptism we find God coming to
give.
So, Jesus tells us…
John 15:5 ESV
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in
me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can
do nothing.
So…
Who are you?
The “Who are you,” refers not to my or your identity. It doesn’t even
refer to the identity of John the Baptist. No, the “Who are you,” refers to our
religious status and claim. The priests and the Levites of John’s day, wanted
to know what religious status or claim John had to do what he was doing by calling
people to repent, to turn to God.
Likewise for Jesus disciples today, “Who are you?” Who are you to call
people to repent? Who are you to point to Jesus? Who are you to celebrate Jesus
coming into this world as a baby? Who are you to look for Jesus to come again?
Who are you to point to the Light of Jesus? Who are you to witness to the
action of God’s grace in your life? Who are you to point to the Word spoken,
written and proclaimed in the Church? Who are you to speak of God’s giving and
our receiving God’s grace in baptism? Who are you to receive Jesus into your
being at the Communion Table in the bread and the wine and the body and blood
of Jesus? Who are you? Where did you gain this status?
Who am I? Well, I’m certainly not Jesus! But like John the Baptist, I’m a
voice. A voice that points to the Light. A voice that points to Jesus. A voice
that points to God’s grace in all God has done for me and for you, through the
actions and love of Jesus coming into this world, to love all of us to the
death of ourselves, and the life in him for all eternity.
God dresses each one of us with his salvation. God does great things. God
permits us to live in joy. So, rejoice, be glad, give thanks; because God is
the one giving us sanctification and righteousness.
Who are you? Who am I?
A humble voice of one calling in the wilderness. A humble voice that
points to the Light.
God upends the I AM in Jesus to the AM I in our baptism.
Who AM I? --- A child of God… today… tomorrow… and forever! All because
of what God has freely given to me and I thankfully receive.
Come, Lord Jesus, come!
I leave you with a song by Casting Crowns that is appropriate for this reflection... God Bless.
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