John 1:18-28 - Point to Christ!

18

No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

19

Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

20

He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”

21

And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”

22

Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”

23

He said: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the LORD, ‘ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

24

Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees.

25

And they asked him, saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

26

John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know.

27

It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.

28

These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Pointing up!
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John the Forerunner was causing quite a stir. Because of his preaching and baptizing, he was gaining a lot of followers.  The religious leaders were concerned, probably because John's popularity threatened their own power.  So they questioned him to find out who he was - and to make sure he didn't claim to be the messiah!

John did not. He was a faithful witness to what God has shown him. He said, "There is Someone coming. He is the Messiah; not me!"  John basically ignored their questions as to who he was. Instead, he just pointed to Jesus.  

Should I not do the same? If I engage in any good work or any religious activity and, if for some reason, it gains attention, should I not point to Christ as the reason? John proclaimed that Christ would come after him. May I proclaim, this day, that Christ is Risen from the dead and has conquered death by His death! And has raised us by His life.  Help me, O Lord, to point to Christ today, Amen!