I Am John. I Am Not Jesus.

As we enter this season of Lent, we reflect on what it means to prepare the way for Jesus. Like John the Baptist, we are called to point beyond ourselves—to something greater. To Someone greater.

John knew his role. He was not the Messiah, but the one sent to prepare the way for Him. His story is one of wilderness and waiting, repentance and revelation, boldness and humility.

Through John’s voice, we step into a deeper understanding of our own place in God’s story—a story that calls us to prepare our hearts, seek refuge in Christ, and proclaim the good news.

I came to prepare the way.
When there appeared to be no way.
Or worse, a crooked way.
A corrupt way.
A rebellious way.
Which is no way.
No way at all.

I am John. I am not Jesus.

I am considered weird and wild.
Wilderness walker.
Wild-eyed talker.
Locust and wild honey stalker.

Camels hair garment.
A leather belt.
More adventurous clothes
You’ve never felt.

I’m a man’s man.
The Spirit of The Man.
Calls me.
Called me from the womb.
Leaping. Bounding. Growing.
Waiting.
Adventurers must wait.
Until the time is right.

I am John. I am not Jesus.

Waiting is not wasted.
Waiting is for preparation.
Waiting grounded my story
Into His story.
His grand story.

God got dirty.
God’s hands made him.
Breathed the Ruah Spirit of life.
Into him.
God took her from him.
The perfect complement.
Perfect companion.
Perfect love.

But love fueled by rebellion
Led to loss.

They had it all.
Remember?

Good days.
Good plants and planets.
Good signs and seasons.
Good birds and beasts.
Good fish and frogs.
Good fruit and food.
Good work.
Very good walks and talks.
Perfect love.

Remember?

But the deceiver came.
The seducer whispered.
Doubt took root.
And they chose to know
What they could never un-know.

Shame.
Naked shame.
Take cover.
Run.
Hide.
From themselves and God.

Yet.

Yet.

God pursued.
God covered.
God convicted.
God promised.
God spoke.

The enemy would bite.
But he would be crushed.
The countdown to that day
Started.
That day.

Eve and all daughters of Eve—
Pain will mark your story.
A sword to the soul.

Adam and all sons of Adam—
Your work will bring sweat.
Your days will end in dust.
For dust you are.
And to dust you will return.

I am John. I am not Jesus.

This is our story.
Our origin story.

God should have given up.
Would have.
Could have.
But He didn’t.

Because He is refuge.
Even when we rebel.
Even when we run.
Even when we forget.

And so the story continued—
Abraham.
Isaac.
Jacob.
Israel.
A light to the nations.

Until they wandered again.
Until they lost sight again.

And then…

Enter me.

I am John. I am not Jesus.

But I was sent ahead.
I came preaching.
I came preparing.
I came proclaiming:

“Repent!
Turn from your sin.
Set your mind on heaven.
Where God is.”

God is coming down.
I knew it.
I could feel it.
Deep in my bones.
Deep in my womb-leaping soul.

And then—
He came.

Jesus is…
Refuge for the rejected.
Refuge for the rebellious.
Refuge for the reckless wretch.
Refuge for reactive, leaping little me.
Refuge leading to reconciliation.
With God.

Jesus is… God.

I was sent.
To prepare.
To preach.

To decrease.

So He could increase.

And there He was.
Walking toward me.
Looking at me.
Smiling at me.

It was time.

His time.
All of time.
The fullness of time.

Water covered.
The dove descended.
God spoke.

“This is my beloved Son.
In whom I am well pleased.”

The Spirit sent Him.
Into the wilderness.
Where He was tempted—
But did not fall.

Because He is the Word.

And I?

I am John. I am not Jesus.

But I knew.
I always knew.

He is the Word
That calms.
That heals.
That feeds.
That sends.

The Word that was killed.
For me.

The Word that was raised.
For me.

The Word that raises.
The Word that will raise me.

And so I proclaim.
As I was always meant to proclaim:

Prepare the way.
Make the paths straight.
For He is coming.
The I AM is near.

Dust will be made into bones.
Bones that rattle.
Bones that rise.
Hearts that beat again.

The Animator.
The Author.
The Perfecter of all things.

No.

 This is His story.

 But we are in it.
 Called to believe.
 Called to share.
 Called to live.

 Until we see Him.
 Until we see Jesus.

 I am John. I am not Jesus.
 But I am His.

As we step into the season of Lent, let John’s message prepare our hearts for Jesus. His voice still echoes today:

     Repent. Turn your heart to God. Make way for the Lord.

As we journey together through this season, may we find our refuge in Christ, the One who was, and is, and is to come.

Join us for our Gospel of Mark series this Lent. Let’s walk this path together.

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