The One by Scott Hoezee

The One December 30, 2018 Read: John 1:19-28 . . . among you stands one you do not know. (v. 26) Earlier this month we noted that John the Baptist was such a powerful preacher that a lot of people thought he was the long-awaited Messiah. That is why the apostle John had to go to such great lengths to make it clear that the Word made flesh was not John the Baptist. You can understand the confusion, though. John was quite the spectacle. He put on quite a show. It was natural that people would rivet their attention on him. So John deflected the attention but then said something that gets pretty close to the essence of God’s way of operating. John claimed that right in their very midst stood one “you do not know.” Jesus was just another face in the crowd. He lined up to get baptized by John and waited his turn like everybody else. Who knew? Jesus was never much to look at. But Jesus was the One. That he was quiet and humble is just part of how God operates. God chooses the weak things of this world to display his glory and so the gospel will always come in humble trappings. The kingdom, the gospel, the Christ himself are quiet, growing like tiny seeds hidden in the soil. “Among you stands one you do not know.” But he was there that day. And he is still right here with us in this world, softly and gently calling all people to himself. —Scott Hoezee Prayer: Thank you for being with us always, dear Jesus, even as you promised. Amen.