Throngs of people line up along the Jordan River to be baptized by John the Baptist who calls for repentance of sins. The big turnout of penitents from all walks of life does not escape notice by people from Jerusalem, the center of faith and government. The religious authorities in Jerusalem send Levites and priests to make a background check on John the Baptist. The group of Pharisees also send representatives to question John on the baptism that he is administering to the people. One truly admirable trait of John the Baptist is his truthfulness as a prophet. He is surrounded by his own set of disciples, but he is very careful not to allow the adulation of people make him forget his own identity and mission. When Jesus eventually appears on the Jordan, John identifies him as the Lamb of God… the one who is coming after him, whose sandal strap he is not worthy to untie. For John the Baptist, mission is to be “the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord’ ” (v 23). He is thought to be the Messiah, or Elijah, or the long-awaited Prophet like Moses. But John does not jump on such prestige. It is clear to him that when Jesus emerges, he should rescind to the background. May we have a healthy self-knowledge as we grow in our own identity as children of God who are tasked to proclaim him in our life and words. May we put him on the forefront and learn to lose ourselves in God to whom all glory and honor belong.

“All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.”

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.

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2026.” E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.