Among you there stands Jesus!

John 1:19-28

When Jews from Jerusalem sent a group of priests and officials to ask John who he was, he was completely honest. 20 He didn't evade the question. He told the plain truth: "I am not the Messiah." 21 They pressed him, "Who, then? Elijah?" "I am not." "The Prophet?" "No." 22 Exasperated, they said, "Who, then? We need an answer for those who sent us. Tell us something, anything, about yourself." 23 "I'm thunder in the desert: 'Make the road straight for God!' I'm doing what the prophet Isaiah preached." 24 Those sent to question him were from the Pharisee party. 25 Now they had a question of their own: "If you're neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet, why do you baptize?" 26 John answered them, I [only] baptize in (with) water. Among you there stands One Whom you do not recognize and with Whom you are not acquainted and of Whom you know nothing. 27 It is He Who, coming after me, is preferred before me, the string of Whose sandal I am not worthy to unloose. 28 These things occurred in Bethany across the Jordan [ at the Jordan crossing], where John was then baptizing.

Food for thought!

We are all in our first week of 2016. Starting from today's gospel passage, and going step by step, day by day, we will follow Jesus’ first week in the public life. And as you remember, Jesus told us in Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus told us, "Come to me … and learn from me. This means that Jesus is our template, model, mold, and standard in life.

In today’s reading we have the preparatory events of the first day. Jesus was preceded by John. Before Jesus there's always a someone, a John, telling the people to get ready for Jesus. Jesus continues to be present among us even though many times unknown. That's why someone has to remind someone of the presence of Jesus.

It’s not really a matter of being a pastor or missionary or someone who is vocationally set aside. It rather means that we start living for Christ regardless of our state, wherever we are, looking around to see what we can do for Him. Near us today is a need to fill. Close at hand is a person to cheer, a customer and employee who need a smile, a bit of hope, an encouraging word, wise counsel, and the witness of a godly life.

John said something extremely important: right here in the crowd is someone you have never met. He was talking of Jesus. John said, “there stands One Whom you do not recognize and with Whom you are not acquainted and of Whom you know nothing.” In other words, although Jesus stands among us, he is not recognized as present; someone has to point him out to others. Every Christian is a John to the world.

And because we don’t easily recognize Jesus among us, the Bible recommends us:

Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through him. (Col 3:17)

And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. (Col 3:23-24)


Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, where you are going. (Eccl 9:10)