John 1:19-28,

19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

John 1:19-28

How would you answer the question posed to John the baptist?  Who are you?

Identity can be confusing.  John knew who he was, his purpose, and what he was to do.  

I try and be as honest as possible with these blog post.  When it comes to the question of who am I, I struggle.  I struggle because I know what the proper Biblical answer is to this question.  In Christ I am a new creation.  The old self has been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me.  As Paul states “the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me”. (Gal.2:20)  Therefore to think about who I am is to reflexively acknowledge that I am a Christ follower first, but this is the point I begin to struggle.    

Laura’s grandfather passed last week.  We were in Kentucky the past few days for his services.  I don’t know many of Laura’s Kentucky family and multiple times this past weekend I was introduced to someone and then asked “now what do you do?”  In our society so much of who we are is assumed or understood by what it is that we do for a profession.  This is the juncture where I struggle.  Because I am paid by the church I feel at times like I am a professional Christian.  I don’t like that thought, ehh.  When I respond to the question of what I do I naturally respond that I am a Pastor.  This is when the conversation usually gets really good or really awkward.  Why? I believe it is because when speaking with a pastor in North America there is this professional personal in which others begin to either judge or justify themselves.  Some hold their tongue, many do not.  I have learned that people try to associate themselves with their own perceived identity when learning about the identity of another.  This is why Isaiah answers the way he does when he finds himself in the presences of God.  “Woe is me”. (Is. 6:5) However unlike Isaiah’s situation when others meet me they are not meeting anyone special.            

I stated earlier I personally struggle with the question of who I am.  This is because while I truly believe I am a new creation in Christ I am not complete in that identity yet.  To state it as Paul does “the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God” (Gal.2:20) 

To be a Pastor is to be no less closer to Christ than to be a Construction worker, Teacher, or Doctor.  To truly be identified as a Christ follower is to have faith in Him regardless of profession.  

I ask then who are you?  Parts of this answer will be easy.  It is not hard to answer that you are a husband or wife, parent or grandparent, etc.  Why? Because you can see these things, they require little to no faith.  But I challenge you to truly consider the most important element of your identity, your sin, and your sins solution, Christ. 

John knew who he was in the grand plan of God.  If you have accepted and now identify yourself in Christ I would encourage you to spend sometime in prayer asking God to reveal to you a strengthening faith of just who it is He has made you to be in Himself.

I asked Him that question a few years back and He led me into the Pastorate during this season of my life.  How about you?