The Voice of One Crying Out in the Wilderness

Text: John 1:19-28

Reflection and Question: As the good Jew that he is, John answers the question, “Who are you?” with a reference to Scripture. He takes on the mantle of the one in Isaiah 40 who shows those in exile the way back to Jerusalem. John is suspect to the priests, Levites and Pharisees because he is not one of them and because his baptism by water is not a sanctioned ritual. And they fear his power, even though John is consistent in his deference to the one who is coming after him. John is clear that he is showing us the way to Jesus. How do you find your way to God?

Prayer: Jesus, Cousin to John, his claim to be a voice crying in the wilderness has become an image of hopeless truth-telling that goes ignored. But You were bound to John and his ministry. Bind us, as well, that we may learn from him. Amen.

This meditation is based on the Daily Lectionary Year 2 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).