⁶There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. ⁸He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.

¹⁹This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” ²⁰He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” ²¹And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” ²²Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” ²³He said,
“I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,
‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’”
as the prophet Isaiah said.

²⁴Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. ²⁵They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” ²⁶John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, ²⁷the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” ²⁸This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

• Light a candle to remember Christ’s presence with you.
• Sit five to fifteen minutes in silent meditation, paying attention to the deep breath.
• Someone wants to know, “Who are you?”
• Who is asking the question?
• What is your answer?
• Who are you not?
• What do you say about yourself?
• In which wilderness are you living?
• How is God nurturing you there?
• How is God calling you to make straight the way of the Lord?
• How will God accompany you on this journey?
• Is there a message for you from God?
• Give thanks to God for this time to pray in the wilderness and for any new insights you have received.
• Share as you feel led in the reply box below.

⁶There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. ⁸He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.

¹⁹This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” ²⁰He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” ²¹And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” ²²Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” ²³He said,
“I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,
‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’”
as the prophet Isaiah said.

²⁴Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. ²⁵They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” ²⁶John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, ²⁷the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” ²⁸This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

• Light a candle to remember Christ’s presence with you.
• Sit five to fifteen minutes in silent meditation, paying attention to the deep breath.
• Someone wants to know, “Who are you?”
• Who is asking the question?
• What is your answer?
• Who are you not?
• What do you say about yourself?
• In which wilderness are you living?
• How is God nurturing you there?
• How is God calling you to make straight the way of the Lord?
• How will God accompany you on this journey?
• Is there a message for you from God?
• Give thanks to God for this time to pray in the wilderness and for any new insights you have received.
• Share as you feel led in the reply box below.