What Jesus Did : John 1:22-23 - Pointing the Way, Clearing the Path
by Phil Ware
Pointing the Way, Clearing the Path - John 1:22-23
Then the Jews said, "Who are you? Tell us about yourself. Give us an answer to tell the people who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" John told them the words of the prophet Isaiah: "I am the voice of a person shouting in the desert: 'Make a straight road ready for the Lord.'" (ERV) Full TextKey Thought
John let the questioners know that his identity was not the issue; the one about whom he spoke was the important issue. Yes, John's coming was an answer to prophecy. Yes, John's ministry was powerful and touched many people. Yes, John's work changed untold number of lives. Yes, John's presence was a signal about God's coming Kingdom. John, however, always kept his role in perspective: "I'm here to point the way to the Messiah. My role is to clear the path for people to find the Lord." No matter what our gifts may be, no matter what talents God has given to us, each of us in our own way is called to follow John's example. We have been put into a circle of friends, family, and acquaintances to point the way to the Messiah and clear a path for those we know to find the Lord.
Today's Prayer
Precious and loving Father, King of the ages and LORD of my heart, please use me to bring others to know Jesus as their Savior and Lord. I especially ask that you will give me wisdom as I seek to be a faithful witness to your Son's grace with the following people .... In the mighty name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
The Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent some priests and Levites to John. The Jews sent them to ask, "Who are you?" John spoke freely. John did not refuse to answer. John said clearly, "I am not the Christ. " That is what John told people. The Jews asked John, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah ?" John answered, "No, I am not Elijah." The Jews asked, "Are you the Prophet ?" John answered, "No, I am not the Prophet." Then the Jews said, "Who are you? Tell us about yourself. Give us an answer to tell the people who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" John told them the words of the prophet Isaiah: "I am the voice of a person shouting in the desert: 'Make a straight road ready for the Lord.'" These Jews were sent from the Pharisees. These men said to John: "You say you are not the Christ. You say you are not Elijah or the Prophet. Then why do you baptize people?" John answered, "I baptize people with water. But there is a person here with you that you don't know. That person is the One who comes after me. I am not good enough to untie the strings on his shoes." These things all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan River. This is where John was baptizing people. The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him. John said, "Look, the Lamb of God. He takes away the sins of the world! This is the One I was talking about. I said, 'A man will come after me, but he is greater than I am, because he was living before me—{he has always lived}.' Even I did not know who he was. But I came baptizing people with water so that Israel (the Jews) could know that Jesus is {the Christ} ." Then John said, "I also did not know who the Christ was. But God sent me to baptize people with water. And God told me, 'You will see the Spirit. come down and rest on a man. That man is the One who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. '" John said, "I have seen this happen. I saw the Spirit come down from heaven. The Spirit looked like a dove and sat on him (Jesus). So this is what I tellpeople: 'He (Jesus) is the Son of God.'"-- John 1:19-34 (ERV)
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