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John was a somebody. His birth was the stuff of legend—born to parents who were aging and unable to bear children. Before his birth, the angel of the Lord appeared to his father, Zechariah, and foretold the birth of this child who would be “great before the Lord” (Luke 1:15) and who, with the power of the Holy Spirit, would prepare the way of the Lord (vv. 15–17). He was also a prophet without equal. Not only did the angel declare that John would minister “in the spirit and power of Elijah,” he even looked the part, wearing a leather belt and clothing made of camel’s hair, and eating a diet of locusts and honey (Mark 1:6; see 2 Kings 1:8; Mal. 4:5).
People came to him from “Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan” (Matt. 3:5). Even Herod summoned John to hear him preach. Legendary birth, longed-for prophet, and preacher to kings—that’s not bad for a résumé. Given his stellar background, his confession is surprising. When the leaders of the Jews asked who he was, he replied, “I am not the Christ” (John 1:20; see also 3:28). This was John’s “testimony”: not who he was but who he was not.
Our default mode is to think much of ourselves. We’re the hero in our narrative, bravely paving a way forward, supporting our family on our broad shoulders, leading others with foresight and fortitude, and winning the day with our gifts and talents. Even if that is not true, we keep trusting ourselves—our talents, resources, relationships, or intellect.
Let’s be honest. We are all too often self- sufficient, self-reliant, and self-dependent. Though we have no power to impart grace or to dictate our future, and we constantly struggle with sins, we still think we are in charge. Perhaps we need to hear the words of John the Baptist often: “I am not the Christ.”
In understanding who he was not, we get a glimpse of who he was. He was a witness. The Apostle John reminds us: “He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light” (John 1:7–8). What do witnesses do? They give testimony (see v. 19). John was a witness who testified to what truth is. Actually, he testified to who truth is: Jesus Christ. So John simply and literally pointed to Him: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (v. 29).
John was a signpost. His purpose in life was to point to the Savior. A signpost can be beautiful, colorful, and prominent. But a signpost can also be ugly, faded, unknown, and small. What a signpost cannot be is wrong or unclear. It has to point in the right direction: “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (3:16). As a signpost, John knew his role—Christ must increase, but he must decrease (v. 30). This was not an option. He must increase. I must decrease. In the same way, may we remember that we are not the Christ and simply point to the true Savior.