12 December 2021 Luke 3:10-18
Sunday of the 3rd Week in Advent
IDENTITY AWARENESS
“I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire (Luke 3:16).
John is busy teaching the people how to live an upright life. Many people began to wonder whether John is the messiah. He does not only baptize people but teaches them how to live moral lives. The zeal for God manifested in his words and life of simplicity, austerity and authenticity compared to their other religious leaders, people started speculating that he is the awaited Messiah. Somebody from nowhere comes and shakes the religious context of Israel. Nothing like this has happened in Israel for the past four hundred years. People could bear the suspense regarding John’s identity. People from all fields of life, namely, tax-collectors, soldiers etc. started asking him, ‘what are we to do?’
Those were defining moments of John’s identity. If he would have just agreed to the speculation that he is the messiah people would accept and adore him. But John says, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Luke 3:16).
John’s self-awareness of his own identity (Voice of Messiah) and mission (messenger of Messiah) derives from his awareness of Jesus’ identity and how he is related to Christ. Jesus’ identity is like a mirror for John to understand his identity.
Because of this self-awareness he is aware of what he should or should not say? So he boldly tells that he is not Messiah, Elijah or Prophet. He is only the ‘voice’ of the Messiah who would baptize them with the Holy Spirit and Fire.
John knows that he is not the light, but only the spotlight which calls attention into objects or others. His mission is to point the hearts to the Messiah.
A true self-awareness in our identity in relationship with God as children of God makes us humble and committed in Christian life. Amen.