Meeting Jesus - John the Baptist

John 1:6-8, 19-28

The New Revised Standard Version The Word Became Flesh

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.

The New Revised Standard Version The Testimony of John the Baptist

19 This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 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.

24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, 27 the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” 28 This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

The story of John the Baptist is like the introduction to the film of Jesus the star of the movie. We don’t get to meet Jesus in the opening scene and we wonder maybe with the Jews is it John? Is John the star of the movie? No he is pointing to someone else who in this opening scene who we do not meet but John has wetend our appetite with the anticipation of who the messiah is we with John are excited and expectant to meet Jesus.

Jesus’ name is not mentioned in the Message Jesus is described as the ‘Life-Light’ or the Messiah. John is asked if he is the Messiah and if not who is he? Elijah? Nope. A prophet? Still no! As the Jews continued to interrogate him and eventually he answers: ‘I’m thunder in the desert’.

During Advent it is a time of preparation to meet with the coming Jesus.

John does three things. First, he is a witness to the light. Second, he testifies to the light and third he baptised. All of this would point to the true Messiah - Jesus whose sandals John would be not worthy to untie. So let’s reflect on those three things together.

John was a witness to the light - is this context witness means ‘Any person having knowledge of truth willing to testify to that truth.’ So what do we know of know of Jesus?