True Identity

It was a hot day with very little shade to escape the oppressive heat. John was sitting with some of his disciples in a narrow sliver of that shade. There was barely a hint of breeze. Small and large groups of people were gathering at the place of baptism beside the river. Then John saw them in the distance making their way through the crowds. He recognized them by their garments. They were priests and Levites from Jerusalem. They were obviously there on official business. John rose to his feet and made his way to the edge of the water. From there, he began to address the crowd. John’s powerful voice echoed through the mountains and valleys of the wilderness near the Jordan River. His message also echoed through the hearts and minds of the people as they waited with pensive anticipation to hear a word from the Lord. John preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. His words pointed to the one who would come.  As John concluded his words, people responded by joining him in the water to be baptized by him.

After the baptisms were completed, John made his way to the delegation from the temple authorities. They spoke first as John was still walking towards them. They called out to him, “Who are you?” John quickly and forcefully replied, “I’m not the Christ.” To which they said, “What then? Are you Elijah?” John said to them, ”I am not.” The delegation was not done pelting him with questions to discover who he claimed to be. “Are you the prophet?” To that query, he simply replied, “No.” In exasperation, they said, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” The powers that be in Jerusalem had to put everything and everyone in categories they could control. As was his habit, John’s answer was direct and assertive, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

This answer of John opened the door for their real concern. They then asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” Again, John’s answer did not evade the question but penetrated to the heart of the matter, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he  who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” The delegation from Jerusalem turned with puzzled looks on their faces and made their way back to those who sent them.

This episode in the wilderness opened the door to all that followed concerning the one whom John was sent to prepare the people to receive. John knew who he himself was and what his mission entailed. His identity did not come from within himself, what he thought, or how he felt. It came from outside of himself; it came from God. John had a call upon his life, a pivotal mission to fulfill. John never claimed to be someone he was not, nor took a position he was not called to take. That would not accomplish the plan of God but only enlarge his pride. John did not see himself as someone great, only a voice, a voice crying out in desperation for people to hear the much needed message.

In the days ahead, John directed his disciples to the one who truly was the Christ.  Some of them would be part of the inner circle Jesus called apostles. They followed him throughout his earthly ministry and beyond as he sent them on the mission to proclaim him as the Savior, Christ the Lord. All this transpired because John was true to his calling.

The Jerusalem delegation sent to integrate John asked him a penetrating question, “What do you say about yourself?” This is a question the world always asks of those called by God. The question presupposes that we have a conception about ourselves that is in tune with the world’s narrative. To that question of identity, a dishonest answer that we are someone special would only enflame our pride. John saw himself as decreasing and Jesus as increasing. John knew his true identity. This was not only in the plan of God but also in the heart of John. An honest answer might be, “I don’t know; I’m trying to figure that out.” If a person honestly desires to know their place in the plan of God, God will lead them to a firm conviction deep within their heart. Part of the dynamic of knowing God is knowing yourself. One’s own personal identity comes not from the inside but from the outside. It invades our lives by the Holy Spirit. The humble response of John must be the response of all who follow Jesus.  We are not enslaved by a need to promote ourselves but a passion to promote Jesus. He is the one people need.

The answers from John did not satisfy the religious leaders in Jerusalem, nor did the answers from Jesus. Their identity was bound up in their power rather than the plan of God. What shapes and informs your understanding of your identity? Are you surrendered to God’s call on your life? “What do you have to say about yourself?”