This is the testimony of John.
When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him
to ask him, “Who are you?”
he admitted and did not deny it, but admitted,
“I am not the Christ.”
So they asked him,
“What are you then? Are you Elijah?”
And he said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?”
He answered, “No.”
So they said to him,
“Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us?
What do you have to say for yourself?”
He said:
“I am the voice of one crying out in the desert,
‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’
as Isaiah the prophet said.”
Some Pharisees were also sent.
They asked him,
“Why then do you baptize
if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?”
John answered them,
“I baptize with water;
but there is one among you whom you do not recognize,
the one who is coming after me,
whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.”
This happened in Bethany across the Jordan,
where John was baptizing.
Lectio (Reading)
Read the passage twice and get a sense of what it is saying. Pay attention to what strikes you.Meditatio (Reflecting)
Slowly read the passage again, pausing on words or phrases that stands out. Take time to consider the meaning. particularly in your life.And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, “Who are you?” He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.”
Oratio (Responding)
Read the passage again, slowly. Consider how God has spoken to you and respond back to Him. You may want to consider how this passage is asking you to act differently.The messiah is one of the most misunderstood characters in the old testament. Some prophesy tought the messiah would be a political leader and conquering king, that would free them from slavery. Other prophets tought that He would be a suffering servant that would come to sacrafice and die for us. Most Jews believed that when He came He would be the former, and did not understand what it would mean for Him to come as a suffering servant.
Nevertheless there are 3 things that the Jews knew and proclaimed about the messiah. First that Elijah would appear and he would proclaim the coming of the Lord. Second, The christ (messiah) figure would arrive, and he would Rebuild the temple, Unite the tribes of Israel, and put all of Isreals enemies under its feet. Lastly He would be the great profit that was promised by God to Moses.
John did not fulfill any of these roles. He was not elijah, or the messiah, or the great prophet, but He did maintain parts of all these things, only to the extent that they pointed to the true Messiah Jesus who was the true fulfillment of all three. But John did have the firery spirit of elijah. He was the voice crying out in the wilderness, making straight the way to the Lord, and he was a (minor) prophet, the last in fact, that would point to the arrival of the great high priest and King of the universe.
This is how we are to understand the statements of todays readings. John is not any of the things that the Jews accused him of being, but he is instead the one that points to the one that is to come, the one that would fulfill all of the prophecy…, Jesus Christ.
So Today, rejoice because the Lord of the universe is about to become man, and He comes to save us from our sins, because He loves us so much that He would give everything to save us. This is a love that we cannot fully understand, and do not deserve, but a gift that we should be eternally grateful for.
Contemplatio (Contemplating)
Take time to simply remain in the presence of God.Resolutio (Resolving)
Make a resolution that will improve your life, your relationships, or your faith. Make it small and attainable, and do it.Oh Lord, help me today to love you above all, and to prepare my heart, and all that I am, for your arrival…, both 2000 years ago, and the one that is yet to come.