John invites you to know Jesus in deeper ways each time you read these stories. John is an excellent writer! As we read the Gospel of John together, I want you to pay attention to how Jesus interacts with people, how he responds to situations, how he remains in control all the way till he gives up his spirit on the cross (no one takes it from him). To see Jesus in these ways, I encourage you to read the stories over and over again as you read through this Gospel this year. Each time you do, spend some time sitting in the position of different characters who interact or observe Jesus. What is God revealing to you about Jesus from their perspective? What do you learn about yourself by how they respond to Jesus?
Read the first chapter of John and pay attention to John the Baptist in contrast to how John the author of this Gospel presents Jesus. John the Baptist has worked himself into a good political position in Israel. It might now seem like it, but he has gained a position where he could actually mount a claim for the throne of David. He had the followers and the religious elites had taken notice of his message of redemption, calling all of Israel back to following God. When faced with that kind of worldly power, it is tempting to take hold of it. He could even rationalize that it was for God’s glory and therefore must be right! Many of us in his position would fall into this temptation if we were presented with the temptation.
The reality is there are people in power who regularly make claims for our allegiance, offering us power within the culture in exchange. We justify giving our allegiance because we convince ourselves that this power will have the greatest impact on the world we are in. John’s response to this growing power around him is one we need to embrace in our lives. He says a lot in chapter 1 that I will get to momentarily but the essence of his entire attitude for his purpose in life is summer up in seven words, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (3:30).
This attitude of Jesus increasing in your life in such a way that you decrease is the focus of the Christian spiritual journey. Our walk with Christ is a continual journey of relinquishment of all that we are so that Christ will make us all that we need to be. When you look at the life and ministry of John the Baptist, what do you learn about the life you are called to live in relation to Jesus Christ?
John came as a voice, a signpost pointing to Jesus. His life was live as a witness to point to the one that must become greater. What areas of your life point to Jesus? What areas of your life point to someone or something other than Jesus? Do these arrows come into conflict?
There are times in my life where I thought I could be Jesus for someone. I felt hopeless when I couldn’t fix them. In ministry, we call this the Messiah Complex. Ministers often take on this unhealthy mindset that they are called to fix everyone they meet. The reality is all any of us can do is be a witness to the presence of Jesus with us. In your life with others, seek to create space for the light to enter in and bring change. You cannot force this light on anyone and expect change. What you can do is be a voice calling out in the desert and invite them into this space where reconciliation and redemption takes place.
Jesus is the light that transforms darkness. We reflect that light into the world and draw people to the light by how well we reflect the light of Jesus. You cannot expect the reflect the light of Jesus if you are not intentionally spending time in his light to illuminate the darkness in your own life. What will you do this year to spend time with Jesus in a way that brings more light into the world where you are?