A Simple Kind of Man

John 1:19-28

This is the testimony of John.
When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him
to ask him, "Who are you?"
He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted,
"I am not the Christ."
So they asked him,
"What are you then? Are you Elijah?"
And he said, "I am not."
"Are you the Prophet?"
He answered, "No."
So they said to him,
"Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us?
What do you have to say for yourself?"
He said:
"I am the voice of one crying out in the desert,
'Make straight the way of the Lord,'
as Isaiah the prophet said."
Some Pharisees were also sent.
They asked him,
"Why then do you baptize
if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?"
John answered them,
"I baptize with water;
but there is one among you whom you do not recognize,
the one who is coming after me,
whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie."
This happened in Bethany across the Jordan,
where John was baptizing.

I don't know if I could be as humble as John. I guess that's why John was John and not me. This guy was like a rockstar in his day. People were coming from all around to see this crazy guy wearing camel skins with a big 'ol leather belt, eating locusts and raw honey dunking people underwater and telling them to repent, but he was doing his job. He was being humble. I don't always do what I should, and I'm definitely not always humble. When I get to big for my britches I have a hard time hearing God let alone doing what he wants. When I don't do what God wants, sure I get full on myself for a bit and feel puffed up but I'm hollow. It doesn't take long to realize that. I can keep trying to play the part, but deep down I know I'm a fake. When I follow God's way and am humble I feel loved. It's hard to love a guy that is full of himself. Even Jesus humbled himself. Here is the king of the universe and He lets people arrest him, spit in his face, beat him, whip him till the skin was ripped off of him, they shoved a crown of thorns on his head, mocked him while he carried his cross across town and up hill, then they drove nails through this hands and feet and hung him up naked and mocked him some more, then for fair measure they stabbed him in the side to make sure he was dead. I don't know if you can be humbled more than that. 

Jesus,

Help me to be humble today. I know what this means, it's okay. I know that I get too big for my own self and that holds me back and holds me back from you. I love you so much. There is so much need in the world. I have enough. Help me to care for my family so they don't go without and help me to shine with your love so maybe others can find their way to you through me. Not for my sake, but for yours because I know you love them and want them to be happy with you too. 

In Jesus Christ's name,

Amen