Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.’ (John 1: 19 & 20 [NKJV]).
The word celebrity is a common thing in our time and age. It is a subject that has been enthroned both in the church and in the world and on every facet of human endeavours. It is true that God desires that His children should be celebrated but He is also a jealous God who does not share His glory with anyone. The fact that God wants us to be celebrated should not becloud our reason of judgement when only Him should be honoured, gloried and celebrated.
John the Baptist was ministering near Bethany by the Jordan River, as he gives his mission and testimony to a group of religious leaders and their representatives. They were not just perplexed about him but were not clear if he was the long awaited Messiah or some kind of prophet or a second coming Elijah. They needed to know whom he was. This yearning of the people could be very tempting and make anyone in John’s position at that time exalt himself and ascribe undue honour to himself. But thank God for His response, as he stated he was not the Messiah, and he quoted Isaiah saying: “I am a mere voice proclaiming from the wilderness, prepare the straight and correct way of the LORD.”
The Greek word interpreted voice is also used for spokesperson-’phone’, from it we get the word, “telephone.” Voice in this context means to be a herald of a new exodus – not to a promised land, but rather a promise of God that is now being fulfilled – an exodus out of the wilderness of sin and ritual and into the redemption of Christ and the Kingdom of God (Isa. 6: 6-9; 40: 3; Matt. 3: 3-4; Luke 1: 76, 3: 4).
A herald is not the message but a messenger. Many people who are supposed to deliver God’s message have turned themselves to the message and indirectly made God the messenger. Through their actions, they have made the people to lose focus of heaven and shifted the attention to themselves. Such men and women are concerned with building empires for themselves instead of building the Kingdom of God. They are not contented with being a witness of the King of kings. They push everything and everyone, everyday to fulfill their own agenda. Unlike John the Baptiser, such people do not bother if Christ increases or decreases. Their concern is their own welfare.
Beloved, in what ways have we been caught in the web of the madness of this age? Is it by ascribing the glory meant for God on many sucesses you have recorded to yourself? or by promoting your image when only Christ should be exalted? Let us learn from John as we pray for the grace of faithfulness to be fully committed to the call of God upon our lives. We are His ambassadors and it is of great necessity and importance that we tell the world about Him. But always remember that He must increase, while we must decreas.
Today, the Youths have taken the centre-stage in our worship. From the mouth of babes, the Lord is speaking to us. May the Lord give you the grace to hear His Voice through the voice of our youths.
Have a joyful celebration as you allow the Lord to increase while you decrease.
Your brother, Vicar & Archdeacon
Igein Isemede