John

So this afternoon, I decided to start reading the book of John.
As I read I started to wonder what all the meanings behind the text were and I started asking these questions,

"Is John's narrative an example of how Christians are supposed to live?
If so, how do we interpret the text, from the way John acts while Jesus is on Earth to the way that we are supposed to act now that Jesus is in Heaven?"

John 1:31 says, "I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel." As I ask these questions, I realize that this is a way that we are supposed to live our lives. John was a baptizer, hence the name John the Baptist, I assume that baptizing was his job, or at least a hobby, or something God told him to do, but nonetheless, it was something John did. I begin to think about the things in my life that I do, such as, church, workish, school, friends, and I replace a few things in this verse to check if I am living up to the narrative. "I myself did not know him (true), but the reason I [am a student at Maize High, and WSU] is that he might be revealed." Does this entire verse sound true in my life? Probably not. So how do I make it true? That is what I will do for the next 10 years or so as I go through schooling, I guess, wish me luck.

This verse always provides a way for us to baptize. Thought I don't baptize anyone, I might someday, I like this verse, because a lot of times the baptism is seen as the individual pronouncing his/her faith, but rather John baptized people to reveal Jesus. I am not criticizing the way we baptize now, but I am looking at it differently, when someone gets baptized, he is revealing God to the world, maybe even making a pact with the rest of the Church, that the individual will continue to reveal Jesus. Did I make that pact with the Church? If so I have broken it. Today I am a student whose purpose is to reveal Jesus. That is my pact.

God use me and the rest of the next few amazing months to impact the world, or at least the community, Lord provide a strong vision in the Christian community to learn to reveal your name to the world. Watch my steps and my struggles and mark the path for me to learn.

AMH