One Day
One day, Jesus walked up.
That is how a children’s Bible we use paraphrases John 1:29, which in the NIV version says, “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him.”
The context is this: John has been telling everyone that Jesus the Messiah is coming—and that he, John, is NOT the Messiah. John has been preaching, and prophesying, and baptizing, and attracting a crowd. He has very much been the center of attention.
Then Jesus walked up.
That day, everything changed, and because John had prepared his heart in advance, he was ready for this pivot. John 1:35-37 describes a powerful-yet-often-overlooked subplot in the story:
“The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God!’ When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.”
One day, John’s voice was attracting followers to himself. The next, his voice was causing his followers to leave his side in order to follow Jesus.
It is a modern-day marketer’s worst nightmare. So much careful work to curate a following and to cultivate trusted relationships—gone in an instant! And yet, my friend, those three verses so aptly describe the goal you and I should share! Consider this question today:
When you speak, do those within the sound of your voice turn and follow Jesus?
We live in a world of attracting followers and, ultimately, attention to ourselves. It is a misguided mission. When you speak, those listening should be drawn not to your side, but to the Father’s. It is counter-cultural in every way, but “He must become greater, I must become less” (Jn. 3:30).
One additional thought to consider from this story. Note how John is simply in the midst of walking out his everyday assignment when Jesus just turns up. Scripture tells us this is how Jesus appears in your life, as well. You have “everyday” assignments plainly spelled out in Matthew 25:35-40. You are to feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, befriend the stranger, clothe the naked, comfort the sick, and visit the prisoner.
To put it even more simply, your everyday assignment is to live for others. When you walk this out, the promise of verse 40 leaps off the page: “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
My friend, Jesus may just walk up to you today in the course of your everyday life. It could be in the form of a friend, a foe, or simply someone in need. Will you notice Him?
You will if you, like John, are prepared in advance. Your mission is not followers of you. Your mission is that those within the sound of your voice will turn and follow Jesus.
The following article originally appeared in Thann’s “The Equipped” Weekly Newsletter. For more information on Thann’s weekly email, click here.