Devotional for the week of December 13, 2020
John knows who he is. When the Pharisees’ messengers demand that John give his credentials, he confidently responds that he is on a divinely appointed mission to witness to the light of Christ. He references the Hebrew Scriptures, orienting himself within the wider story of God’s relationship with Israel. John knows that his testimony is important.
It is notable that John also knows who he is not. In this conversation alone, he clarifies that he is not the Messiah, nor a reincarnation of Elijah, nor a prophet. He emphasizes that he is not even worthy to untie the sandals of the one who comes after him. In other words, John has the humility to admit that he is not Jesus.
The gospel writer says that John “confessed” these declarations about who he was and who he was not (John 1:20). This means that he freely gave public testimony, going “on the record,” so to speak.
Today, many Lutheran churches include a rite of communal confession during Sunday worship. When we confess together, we publicly declare who we are not by naming our captivity to sin. We are not God. We have not loved God wholeheartedly and have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. Yet, confession also reminds us who we are. We are children of God. In the words of absolution, we hear the truth that we are completely forgiven by God, we are made alive in Christ, and we are strengthened with the power of the Holy Spirit (Evangelical Lutheran Worship, pp. 95–96).
The practice of repentance is a return to our baptismal vocation. We declare not only who we are but whose we are. We belong to God, who renews us to live in service of the gospel. Like John, we are witnesses to the light of Christ, and we are called to reflect that light as it shines in our lives and in our world.
Devotional message and art based on the readings for December 13, reprinted from sundaysandseasons.com.
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