John 1:19-23
“When Jews from Jerusalem sent a group of priests and officials to ask John who he was, he was completely honest. He didn’t evade the question. He told the plain truth: ‘I am not the Messiah.’ They pressed him, ‘Who, then? Elijah?’ ‘I am not.’ ‘The Prophet?’ ‘No.’ Exasperated, they said, ‘Who, then? We need an answer for those who sent us. Tell us something—anything!—about yourself.’ ‘I’m thunder in the desert: ‘Make the road straight for God!’ I’m doing what the prophet Isaiah preached.’”
“This was John’s testimony when the Hewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, ‘Who are you?’ He came right out and said, ‘I am not the Messiah.’ ‘Well then, who are you?’ they asked. ‘Are you Elijah?’ ‘No’ he replied ‘Are you the Prophet we are expecting?’ ‘No.’ ‘Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?’ John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah: ‘I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’””
I tend to minimize John as he did himself. Yet Jesus makes his status clear. “I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist.” (Matthew 11:11) According to the Pharisees in these verses he was a man that defied description. He described himself as, “thunder in the desert.” He must have been a powerful individual, the kind that are made, not born. How had life prepared him for this moment? Someday we will get to find out. I must remember everyone has a story. No one is just, ‘someone.’ The Lord loves each and I must follow.
Lord, keep me from the snap judgements I was bred to. Let me see people as you do. Let me see the story behind their eyes and react with your love and compassion.