19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”
21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”
He said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?”
He answered, “No.”
22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”
24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
26 “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”
28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
John knew about Jesus, but others did not. John knew that Jesus was the Son of God, the Savior of the world. He knew where Jesus was from and what He had come to do. John also knew his own purpose. He quoted the prophet Isaiah when asked about his own ministry. He was preparing the path for the Messiah. He understood Jesus’ exalted place and his own humble position. He was sent, not to be the Messiah, but to point to Jesus as the Messiah.
We get so flippant with Jesus sometimes. We don’t understand who He really is. He is the Son of God, the King of kings and Lord of lords. We treat Him like our teddy bear, our buddy or our high school sweetheart, but rarely do we see Him as the One whose sandals we are unworthy to untie. We need to recapture that holy awe of Jesus. Yes, He is a Friend to sinners. Yes, He loves us deeply. Yes, He gives us security when we are afraid. But He is also the Lion of the tribe of Judah. He is the conquering King. He is sitting at the right hand of the Father reigning in majesty and glory. Every knee will bow before Him. Every tongue will confess His lordship. When we see Him coming on the clouds one day, we will understand so much better just how awesome He is.
Let us dedicate ourselves today to living like Jesus is who He said He is. He is the Lion and the Lamb and He is the King. He is God.
PRAYER: O Father, I am sorry when I treat Jesus as anything less than who He really is. Help me to be in awe of His awesome position and amazing power. Help me to make Him the Lord of my life that I may serve Him as my King. In His name, amen.
The Lavished Pauper 
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