Journey Through John, John 1.19-23 — Who are you?
Dear Friends,
Why does a submarine have many compartments? Why can these compartments be sealed up and shut off from the rest?
Most of us realize the answer. But I’ll state the obvious. A submarine has many compartments that can be sealed off as a safety measure; if the integrity of the hull is breached in one area, the whole ship won’t go down and stay and down; just that room will be sealed and flooded.
Most of us realize that like a submarine our lives need a diversity of compartments. Typically we live and gather up our sense of purpose in one or more compartments relationally: our work, our hobbies, our family, our friends, our health, our wealth or lack thereof. All these relationships provide input on who we are.
But at the core — Who are you? What are you all about? What do you have to say about yourself?
John the Baptist is the major character in our readings for the next few days. But he keeps pointing to another character as the lead. John was clear about himself and his purpose. But his clarity confused folks who came to ask him, “Who are you?”
19Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”
21They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”
He said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?”
He answered, “No.”
22Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’ ”
John 1:19-23
John’s point of reference for answering the question “Who are you?” and “What do you say about yourself?” is the Lord. His point of reference for personal identity is God and what God is doing in the world through him — pointing to Jesus.
John was clear about what he was not: “I am not the Messiah… Elijah…. or the Prophet.”
John was clear about who he was and what he was about. So he was able to say, “I am this!”
What a glorious grace! He’s living this purpose in his 30’s. Is there hope for us? Yes! I believe there is hope for all of us — younger or older.
John’s clarity of purpose derived from his relationship with God and the Lord’s calling on his life:
“I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”
If you have never pressed in on this question: Who are you? What are you all about? Now is good time to do so.
Disruptions in our lives can drive us into serious consideration of the question as we deal with the grief of sealed off compartments.
Perhaps it’s good to begin with questions to the Lord Himself: Lord — how do you see me? What do you want my life to be about?
Don’t try to rush the answer. I went through a season of purpose re-evaluation and exploration a few years ago. The experience went like this: clarity seemed to come quickly — almost all at once — but the process had taken months and was built on quite a few years of relationships and experiences. We will get to the other side of this pandemic. Clarity forged in this season will be priceless.
To begin — sit with the question and sit with Jesus.
Who are you?
Let’s pray:
Our Heavenly Father,
We delight in you and the reading of your Word today. You have a plan and a purpose. You shall not be thwarted. Grant us clarity of purpose by Your Spirit and your Word. We don’t have to see your whole plan. But we do desire to see you. Let our lives in this world also point to Jesus. For some of us the Covid-19 pandemic has torpedoed our plans and even our sense of purpose. Whole compartments of our lives have been shut to us. We must retreat to you. Help us Lord. Let your church be a voice calling out in the wilderness so that minds may know Him, and hearts may have their affections set on Him.
In Jesus Name We Pray,
Amen.
I will continue exploring John 1:19-28 in our next reading.
For your own spiritual journey: Please take time to read the text and write your own prayer to God.