I Am Not
I Am Not
19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”
John 1:18
John was so influential in his work that the Jewish leaders sent priests and Levites to see who he was. Because of the Old Testament prophesies, people knew that this was the time of the coming Messiah. Historians mention that many false Christs came up during this time. John’s words were powerful and they attracted many people. He seems to have also been political in his talk at times- that is what lost him his head. So when the priests and Levites went to see who John was, there was one main question. Was he the promised Messiah?
John also knew why these men were coming to him. That is why the first thing that he says is that he wasn’t the Messiah. He didn’t leave any room for debate or speculation. It was never his plan to confuse people but to enlighten them. It’s sad that Jesus didn’t really get this treatment. Although his words were also powerful, he spoke things that they didn’t like and he stayed away from politics. That is why they never pressed him as to whether he was the Christ. Instead they focused on discrediting him.
In our own lives, we must also know what we are not. We are not Jesus. We are not God. We are not the judge. We are not the savior. Only God is all of those things and when we put ourselves in those spots, only trouble ensues. John never put himself there.
21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”
John 1:21
As the priests and Levites went down the list of who he could be, John kept responding with, no. John knew who he was and what his job was. He was never tempted into trying to be more or less than that. That is a lesson we can all learn. What exactly does God want from you? What job has he given you? Are you perhaps doing or trying to be someone that is not part of the plan?
Meditate and pray over these questions this week. God will answer you if you ask.
God bless,
Pr. Steven Couto