Seeking Jesus First Dec. 30, 2025

Knowing Who You Are—and Who You Are Not

“Now this is the testimony of John… He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, ‘I am not the Christ.’ … He said: ‘I am “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Make straight the way of the LORD,’” as the prophet Isaiah said.’” (John 1:19–23, NKJV)

As John’s Gospel continues, the focus shifts from the identity of Jesus to the identity of the one sent to bear witness of Him. Religious leaders from Jerusalem come to John the Baptist with a direct and pressing question: “Who are you?” It is a question loaded with expectation, authority, and pressure. Yet John’s response is striking in its clarity and humility.

Before John tells them who he is, he is careful to say who he is not. “I am not the Christ.” When pressed further—Elijah? The Prophet?—his answer remains the same: No. John refuses every title that would place attention on himself. He does not exaggerate his role, nor does he shrink from it. He simply tells the truth.

There is wisdom here for us. Freedom comes when we stop trying to be what God never called us to be. John’s strength was not found in self-importance, but in God-given clarity. He knew his assignment, and he stayed within it. As we have seen throughout this chapter, witness flows best from humility, not ambition.

When asked again, “What do you say about yourself?” John answers by pointing entirely away from himself and back to Scripture. “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Make straight the way of the LORD.’” John identifies himself not by personal achievement, lineage, or title, but by obedience to the Word of God. He is not the message—he is the voice that carries it.

This matters because John’s ministry takes place in the wilderness—a place of obscurity, discomfort, and dependence. Yet even there, God is at work. John does not try to create a platform; he prepares a path. His purpose is not to draw a crowd to himself, but to make room for the Lord to be revealed.

This passage fits perfectly with what we have already seen in John 1. The Light has come into the world. The Word has become flesh. Grace and truth have arrived in Jesus Christ. Now the question becomes personal: How do we respond? Like John, our role is not to replace Christ, but to point to Him. We are not the source; we are witnesses.

There is also something deeply grounding about John’s answer. He knows who he is because he knows what God has said. Identity rooted in Scripture brings stability. When our sense of self is shaped by God’s Word rather than human expectations, we are no longer driven by comparison, pressure, or the need for approval.

Today, let John’s testimony speak to your heart. You do not need to be everything. You do not need to carry titles that were never yours. You are called to be faithful, not famous. As you walk with Christ, let your life become a clear voice—one that prepares the way for the Lord to enter the hearts of others.