Reflecting on John 1:19-28“He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, ‘I am not the Messiah.'” (John 1:20)
This is something we all need to repeat, especially to ourselves.
I am not the messiah, God’s chosen saviour, who saves others.
I cannot ‘save’ people by my words or by my actions.
I cannot rescue people from their burdens or their folly.
I cannot build the church, or make it successful.
All of us agree with this (I think), but do we act like it?
In the roles we take on, or the expectations we have of ourselves?
I will admit that I do wish I could save and rescue people.
And I have wanted to be that pastor that saved/renewed a church.
And some people mistakenly looked to me to be this kind of saviour.
John is an example of the Jesus Way of saving the world.
It is by making less of ourselves, and being humbled.
It is by giving people the freedom to choose, not pressuring them.
It is by imitating God’s gracious love, which seems weak and ineffective.
I need to confess freely: I am not the Messiah, don’t put your confidence in me.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, I am not called to save people, but to point people to You as Saviour, and to Your Way of saving. You have shown us what being a Saviour is about. Help me to follow Your Way of humility and grace, and to trust that God will take care of the 'saving'.
I just need to be more like Jesus, to be like Him and He will take care of the rest. I need to carry His Light and let that Light shine.