Matthew 3:3 -- “This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”
Are We Worthy?
John the Baptist had waited His whole life for Jesus to come to Him to baptized, but when the moment finally came he felt unsure as to whether or not he should be the one to do it. God had made John His messenger, to go ahead and tell the people of Jerusalem about the coming of the Messiah. When people praised John for being a good and Holy man, he told them one was coming who was far better and more Holy than anyone on earth. He told them about their Savior.
When Jesus arrived, He told John to baptize Him. John had lived his life for this very moment, but at the last minute he questioned himself. Was he really worthy of baptizing the Son of God? Jesus told him He was. John the Baptist was chosen by God as the one worthy to do so.
Maybe we feel unworthy at times of spreading the word of the Gospel. I know I do. I am just a sinner, so who am I to tell others about my faith in Christ? Those who knew me before I met Jesus look at me as if I have gone around to bend once again. They shake their heads in wonder. They do not know Jesus. Their lives are going fine right now. They are not in need of being saved, or so they think.
I think I am more than worthy of telling others about my faith. I have the stripes to prove it. Nothing to compare to the stripes Jesus wore, but stripes all the same, of my own making. By those very stripes I live today with Him. I thank Him for them everyday, because it’s only by those I was healed both physically and emotionally.
We all bear our own certain stripes, and are worthy of the love and forgiveness of our Lord and Savior. Our past and our pain make us the perfect ones to reach out to those who are hurting, sick, dying, and weak. We have been there. We know the exit, the road to freedom and salvation. We know Jesus.
Just as John the Baptist was chosen by God, we are also called on by Him to tell others about the most amazing Man that ever lived. Not only are we worthy, it is expected of us. It’s like having all the of the most delicious bread in the world and not sharing it with the hungry. The bread of life, Jesus Christ.
We are definitely worthy.
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By Christ alone are we made worthy, amen! I love the bread analogy; it is our duty to share Christ - the Bread of Life - with the prayer that those with whom we share will taste and eat and be filled as we are.
