Where is Jesus?

“...there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” John 1:26-27

John the Baptist was a pretty strange character. Even from when he was a baby in his mother’s womb, he already recognized his calling. In the first chapter of Luke, we learn that Mary, the mother of Jesus, went to the hill country of Ein Karem to visit her cousin Elizabeth upon learning the older woman was with child. When Mary greeted Elizabeth, John, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb, leaped! Elizabeth recounts, “As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.” (Luke 1:44) John recognized Jesus in Mary’s womb and gave Him homage the only way he could! 

John always knew his place in the kingdom of God. He did not claim to be someone important or special. “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?” John was asked, because he had so many followers. “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ​‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” He was a very effective preacher and he was popular not only with ordinary people but also with Pharisees, Sadducees, and even the Roman ruler of Galilee and Perea, Herod Antipas, who was drawn to him and liked to listen to him. (Mark 6:20)

Even if crowds followed him, and listened to his every word, John knew that he was not even worthy to remove Jesus’ sandals. The servant assigned to do that was the lowliest servant in the house, and yet John emphasized that it was something he was not worthy, not good enough to do. Are we as humble before the King of Kings our job, or there’s a problem we do not know how to solve? 

Where is Jesus’ place in our life? We will know if we check the time we spend with him, the effort we put in our relationship with Him, getting to know Him and what is important to Him. Our pocketbooks will also reflect how worthy we believe Jesus is when we help those we know Jesus loves best of all, the poor and the hurting. If we have not done so well giving Jesus a place of honor in our hearts, we can strive to do better for this year.