JOHN 5:35 – He was a burning and shining lamp . . .
THEME OF THE DAY. IS IT I, LORD? The question identifying today’s nugget theme was asked of the disciples, even Judas, at the Last Passover. It would be a good thing to often visit this scene in our Bibles. There is so much to be taught from this most intimate scene; humble service as Jesus washes feet, His incredible love as He concentrates on others, not Himself; and the unsearchableness of the human heart as the disciples ask the question, “Is it I, Lord.” Here is the entire dialogue . . .
“Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’ ” 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover. 20 When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. 21 And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” 23 He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” 25 Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so” (Matthew 26:17-25).
The lesson from the question, “Is it, I, Lord?” would be enough for us. The disciples reveal what the prophet Jeremiah proclaims, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). Give the disciples some credit. By asking the question they are acknowledging their inability to know their own hearts. A good lesson for us to always remember; never trust our hearts or our own understanding. It will only prove to be a road to disaster. But that isn’t the main lesson in today’s nugget. It leads us into the main lesson.
Today’s scripture is Jesus affirming the life and ministry of John the Baptist – “He was a burning and shining lamp.” What was he “burning” for? Who was he “shining” forth as a lamp? It was his Lord Jesus. Remember as John’s ministry was winding down he made the statement which is to mark all of us – “He (Christ) must increase, but I must increase” (John 3:30). Now comes the question for all of us . . . “Is it I, Lord?” And the object of the question is the testimony of John the Baptist. Are we burning with passion for Christ and to see Him shine through our lives into our dark world? Is the Lord Jesus increasing in all areas of our lives while self-interests decrease?
Take time soon and evaluate our witness for Christ. Are the people in our spheres of influence; our families, neighbors, co-workers, and brothers and sisters consistently seeing the Lord Jesus through us? Is the holy, humble, gentle, and loving Christ shining through in our speech, actions, and service to others? Friends, that is why we are still on the earth – to have Christ-influencing impact everywhere we go, in every conversation we have, and with every person we engage. It would be of great benefit for us to honestly borrow the question they asked of Jesus during the Last Supper and apply it to our testimony for Christ . . . “Is it I, Lord?”
PRAYER: “Father, make my heart Your dwelling place that my life may shine for the light of Your Son.”
QUOTE: “Christians are to be ‘Son reflectors’ to a world cloaked in the deep darkness of sin and sorrow.”