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March 3 -- John 1:19-51

“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize him.” –John 1:9-10 (NIV)

The Jewish people were eagerly awaiting the Messiah, but when He finally came, most did not recognize Him. The religious leaders of the day were especially confused. Even though they had studied the Scriptures extensively and knew all the prophecies concerning the Messiah, most of them missed seeing Him when He was finally in their midst. John the Baptist certainly got their attention, though.


John the Baptist lived in the wilderness, wore clothes of camel’s hair, and ate locusts and wild honey. He preached about repentance, calling people to prepare their hearts for the coming of the Messiah. His preaching drew people, and his appearance and style were so unusual that the Jewish leaders began to think that he might be the Messiah. John had to assure them that he was not, but he identified himself as the forerunner of the Messiah whose appearance was prophesied in the book of Isaiah (see Isaiah 40:3). The baptism with water that John offered people was a baptism of repentance. The Messiah would baptize with the Holy Spirit (John 1:33).


At first, even John the Baptist did not recognize the Messiah he had been called to serve. Jesus was John the Baptist’s cousin. They had grown up together. Jesus’ mother, Mary, had even gone to visit John the Baptist’s mother, Elizabeth, when both were pregnant, and John “leaped for joy” in utero at the sound of Mary’s voice (see Luke 2:44). Still, even with this personal connection, John said, “I myself did not know Him” (John 1:31), meaning that he did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah until God gave the promised sign of the Holy Spirit descending like a dove.


Because John was called to point people to Jesus, God blessed him with the sign of the dove so that he could be certain Jesus is the Messiah. From that point onward, John began referring to Jesus as “the Lamb of God” (John 1:29 & 36). In the Old Testament, lambs were sacrificed as sin offerings for individuals or for a community. These offerings foreshadowed Jesus’ sacrifice for all of us. Jesus is the true Lamb of God who “takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).


Once God revealed Jesus as the Lamb of God to John the Baptist, John began proclaiming this fact to everyone who would listen. As a result, two men began following Jesus. One of them was Andrew, Peter’s brother. Andrew was so excited about following Jesus that he went to tell Peter.


After Andrew and Peter followed Jesus, He called Philip, and Philip invited Nathanael. Nathanael was skeptical until Jesus’ statement that He saw Nathanael “under the fig tree before Philip called [him]” (John 1:48). This may seem like a little detail to mention, but it wasn’t little to Nathanael. It was somehow personal—so personal that it caused him to believe and confess immediately that Jesus is the Son of God.


This first chapter of John tells us that Jesus is the very Source of our life—the light in our darkness—but it was hard for people to recognize Him. It still is. He was revealed to John the Baptist through a divine act of grace. He is still revealed to people through divine grace. And once we know Him, we want to tell others about Him, just like John the Baptist and the first disciples did. He will ask us to follow Him for the rest of our lives, and like the disciples, we are allowed to choose. If we do follow, there will be times when He meets us in very personal ways as He did for Nathanael, and our lives and our hearts will be permanently transformed by His love.


When did you first realize who Jesus is? Recall the time in your life when Jesus was revealed to you as your Savior. Maybe this revelation was sudden and thrilling, or maybe it was a slow, sweet realization over time, especially if you grew up as a Christian. (In that case, think of the time your parents’ faith in Christ became your own.) Talk to God about this season of your life and thank Him for revealing Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away your sin.

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My name is Melissa Anderson. I'm a spiritual director and ordained pastor who loves God, people, and words. You can read more about me by clicking the button below.

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