What Jesus Did! 'Not Seeking the Spotlight' — John 1:19-21

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

This was John's testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, "Who are you?" He came right out and said, "I am not the Messiah."

"Well then, who are you?" they asked. "Are you Elijah?"

"No," he replied.

"Are you the Prophet we are expecting?"

"No."

— John 1:19-21 NLT

Key Thought

Who are you?
What would you do to be viewed as important by others?
How much does your acceptance by others matter?
I don't know about you, but these are convicting questions for me. Most of us are not happy living our lives in the shadow of someone else, no matter how important that person is. Most of us want to be viewed as significant. John the Baptizer, however, lived a life of importance BECAUSE he chose the shadows and pointed others to Jesus, the light. He directed his followers to Jesus. In spite of having crowds of followers, [1] he refused to be called the Messiah they were seeking. God was pleased with John's choice! Jesus said of him, "John was like a burning and shining lamp, ..." [2] May the same also be true of each of us!

[1] John 1:15.
[2] John 5:35.

Today's Prayer

Almighty God, I ask that you make my role in your Kingdom clear. I not only want to be faithful, but I also want to be fruitful. Please show me where you want me to serve and empower me to serve with a heart of humility and grace. I pray that you will be glorified in my life and that I will be found faithful in your sight. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

2 Related Resources by Heartlight

Mistaken Identity
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Disciple, John the Baptist was an incredible person. He was brave. He was honest. He spoke the truth no matter the consequences. He lived to..."
Completely Honest
Article by Tom Norvell
How honest are you? Let's make sure our words are true and fair and honest, completely.

Illustration

Illustration of John 1:19-21 NLT — "No."

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Today's Verse
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
1 John 5:12
"He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life."
Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'Mightier than These!' (Ps. 93:3-4)
"The floods have risen up, O Lord. The floods have roared like thunder; the floods have lifted their pounding waves. But mightier than the violent..."
Quotemeal
A daily dose of Christian quotes to inspire and encourage.
Quote by Jeremiah Burroughs:
"Contentment is not by addition but by subtraction: seeking to add a thing will not bring contentment. Instead, subtracting from your desires until you are..."
God's Holy Fire
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
'The Always Friend' (Jn. 14:15-16)
"[Jesus said,] "If you love me, show it by doing what I've told you. I will talk to the Father, and he'll provide you another Friend so that you will always have..."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More What Jesus Did!