Not Worthy

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

NOT WORTHY

John 1:24-28

24 Now some Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?" 26 "I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie." 28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

NIV

Although John does not record the rest of what Luke records concerning the words of John the Baptist we still have enough to know John was warning them about Jesus. Luke tells us that John also told them that this one coming after him would baptize them with the Holy Spirit and Fire. But here our take away is the fact that John, as filled as he was with the power of God was still not worthy to untie the sandals of Jesus. We might think from time to time, if God demonstrates his power through us, that we are someone fairly spiritual and therefore somewhat special. We might be tempted to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to if we are able to gain some particular insight into the truths of God. We might be tempted to consider ourselves better than some others because God has used us in some special way. By what John said, we know without a doubt he had no illusions of being anything but a voice telling people to prepare for the One and Only who was coming and that it is all about the One and Only. John knew his position in the kingdom, in Christ, and it was to serve him, and that he was not worthy of doing so because he was not without sin. We should all know we are all unworthy of serving Jesus, although that is exactly what we should do, even in our unworthiness.