Many years ago I attended a pastor’s retreat where we were encouraged to set boundaries, recognize our limitations, and learn to lean on God for strength and direction. The oft repeated mantra for the weekend was, “I am not the Messiah.” It began as a humorous call-and-response led by one of the speakers, but as the weekend went on, we became aware of the many times in ministry when we fall into the trap of thinking we should have all the answers, be able to solve everyone’s personal problems, raise funds, cast big visions, preach stellar sermons every week, resolve every conflict, and have the ability to fix everything. Part of this conundrum is based on our natural desire to help our people and our churches get better and thrive. The other part is based on unrealistic expectations some congregants have of their ministers. In any case, remembering that “I am not the Messiah, I just work for him” is a healthy way of dealing with our own limitations and the truth of Who is really in control.

This is a life lesson for everyone, not just clergy.

I chuckled when I read today’s lectionary, remembering that good lesson from many years ago. In actuality, we were quoting John the Baptizer when we chanted, “I am not the Messiah.” Do you remember the event?

John 1 (New International Version)

⁶ There was a man sent from God whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.⁸ He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

Before we get to the punchline, let’s stop right there. “He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.” In that one golden sentence we find the shared call of every single follower of Jesus. We are not called to be God. We are not called to sit in the judgement seat that God occupies. We are not here to save people, like Jesus does. We are not called to resolve issues with an iron fist. We are not called to determine the parameters of the sheepfold. Those things are of the Lord. All we are called to do is witness to his light.

¹⁹ Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. ²⁰ He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”

²¹ They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”

He answered, “No.”

²² Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

²³ John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”

John reminds us that we serve the Lord in a wilderness of secular thinking. We serve the Lord in the bumpy places where there is confusion and hurt. We serve the Lord by witnessing to the glory of God in the darkest places. We serve the Lord when we reflect his light.

²⁴ Now the Pharisees who had been sent ²⁵ questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, 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 straps 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.

How about you? How can you witness to the Light? How can you offer the hope of the Living Water to the people who are parched and dying of thirst?

No, we are not the Messiah. But pointing to him every day and in every way will bring us great joy. Our witness is strongest in our actions, behaviors, and choices. These are the things people notice. As the old song says, “And they’ll know we are Christians by our love.” So, go and witness to the light.

Witness by Michelle Robertson