John 1:6–8, 19–28 (NRSV)
Read John 1:6–8, 19–28 on biblegateway.com
Verse 6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. Verse 7He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. Verse 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.
Verse 19This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" Verse 20He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, "I am not the Messiah." Verse 21And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He answered, "No." Verse 22Then they said to him, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" Verse 23He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,'" as the prophet Isaiah said. Verse 24Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. Verse 25They asked him, "Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?" Verse 26John answered them, "I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, Verse 27the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal." Verse 28This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.
Devotion
When leading worship at Christmastime, one of my favorite moments in the liturgical year is watching when all the lights are turned off, Silent Night arises from the voices of the congregation, and the once dark space becomes ablaze. A little flicker of light can light up a large space.
So often as followers of Jesus, we gather around light. We sit around campfires to sing and tell stories. We light a candle to mark the start of worship. We gather in vigil to mourn the loss of a beloved or to renounce hate in our world. There is something truly holy about inviting light into a place where the darkness feels too mysterious, big, and overwhelming. It’s an embodied faith practice and boldly proclaims faith and hope to a weary world.
John the Baptist made it clear: “He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.” Where are you being called to bear God’s light? Where do you need to testify that evil and death do not get the last word and that hope and love will win out?
Prayer
Holy One, your light shines in the darkness and nothing can overcome it or extinguish it. So, shine in our hearts, Oh God. Amen.