It’s easy to lose your sense of identity in this world. John the Baptist offers a perfect example of how to get it back.

3 min read

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” -John 3:30

His clothes, his style, everything about him was unique. His influence had gone viral and he was drawing a crowd everywhere he went.

His brand of ministry was a refreshing change in a culture up to its nose in empty, cold-hearted religion.

Who was he? A prophet? Elijah resurrected? Maybe the long-awaited Messiah? Everyone was confused about who John the Baptist was except for John the Baptist.

Things finally came to a head when they began to pit John against Jesus, as if the two were in competition with one another. That’s when John finally settled it. That’s when he cleared up the question of his identity.

His example is powerful and encouraging for the rest of us as we struggle with the age-old question of Who am I? For a follower of Jesus trying to build a strong sense of personal identity, John’s example highlights three important parts:

1. KNOW WHO YOU ARE NOT. When people kept asking John who he was, speculating that maybe he was even the promised Messiah, he said, “You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah.” (John 3:28). John could have played along and pretended to be who the people wanted him to be, but instead he said “No, I am none of those.” How about you? Do you feel pressure to be someone or something other than who you are? In your family, your work, or maybe in a relationship, are you trying to fit some profile? Exhausting, isn’t it? The first step in fighting for your true identity is to be willing and able to say “No, I am not ____________.”
2. KNOW WHO JESUS IS. When the Lord’s public ministry began around the age of 30, it was John the Baptist who had the honor of introducing him. John is the one who famously said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:28-29). John recognized Jesus for who he was and this was the foundation of his personal identity. John became a great person because he recognized and worshiped one who was even greater.
3. KNOW WHO YOU ARE. John was clear as crystal as to who he was. He said ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him’ (John 3:28). He compared his mission in life to that of a best man at a wedding, whose role it is to make it all about the groom. As John saw it, he was simply operating a spotlight, making sure it was aimed at Jesus. In other words, and this is key, John defined himself in terms of who he was in relation to Christ. And we are blessed to be able to do the same thing. In Christ, you may say of yourself that you are loved and chosen, complete, and called by God. And this is just the beginning.

When we are unsure of who we are and everyone else is trying to make up our mind for us, we could do none better than consider the example of one of the Lord’s choicest servants, John the Baptist. If you’ve lost your way and believed the lies, may you find your way back to this simple and liberating truth: I am in Christ and in Christ I am.

It’s a new day with God. Run with it.