John 1:24-27
24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
26 “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”

When I was in seminary I worked at a gym. While there I had several opportunities to meet and be near NFL players. Whenever this occurred, I was amazed at how awe inspiring they are. We get used to seeing them on television, where everyone around them is as big, fast, and fit. It’s difficult to really appreciate the amazing physical talents they possess.

Jack Conklin, an offensive lineman for the Cleveland Browns, is 6 ft 6 in and 308 lbs. Parris Campbell of the Giants is only 6 ft tall and 205 lbs. but was clocked running 22 miles per hour in a game. The fastest time for any ball carrier in 2022. Then there is Andrew Billings who is 6 ft 1 in and 330 lbs. he plays for the Chicago Bears. He bench pressed 500 lbs. while in high school. He squatted 805 and deadlifted 705 as a young man in an official meet. His coaches say he is much stronger now. The sheer size, speed, and strength of these men make them sound unstoppable on the field. They truly are impressive in person.

Despite their amazing physical prowess, there are seven people on the field every Sunday who are, smaller and less athletic than these players. They are often older and slower than the athletes, yet they have total control of the field. In fact. Players from both teams listen to them and do everything they tell them to do.

You have probably guessed by now that these seven authorities are the NFL officials. They are the Referee, Umpire, Down Judge, Line Judge, Field Judge, Side Judge, and the Back Judge. They have been trained by the league office to call a game correctly and consistently.

Their authority is not something that is earned through might, speed or playing ability, but is given from a higher authority. The league front office. The referee in the white hat is called, The Crew Chief, and is the leader of the officiating crew. The other six on the team both report and defer to the Crew Chief. The goal of the officiating crew is to keep the game moving while making sure that all league rules are followed.

John the Baptist is asked by the Pharisees in John 1:19, “Who are you?” After this they also want to know, “By what authority do you baptize?” (1:24). They had been sent to John by the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem. These men thought they were being sent by the “league front office” to judge his ministry work. There were thousands going out to see John. His preaching was very popular. As people were drawn to him in the wilderness the seventy-man governing body of the temple in Jerusalem called the Sanhedrin believed they had the authority to regulate his work.

John the Baptist was doing some things the Sanhedrin didn’t approve of. He was baptizing Hebrew people. This practice had been reserved for Gentiles who were converting to Judaism and was supposed to happen at the temple, not a river in the wild. When sent from the league office to regulate these activities they first demanded to know, who John thought he was. John’s reply to them was simple and accurate. “I am a voice crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord.” (John 1:23). He was telling them the Lord Himself had commissioned the work he was doing. John was quoting Isaiah 40:3 to them.

Next the pharisees asked John, why he was doing this? Again, his answer was short and truthful. The Lord sent me to do this and to watch for His Son. This seems to be the conclusion of this interaction. The pharisees don’t say anything else and the narrative goes in another direction. John sees Jesus in the crowd and tells them, He is the Son of God!

We can learn so much from this account. The focus of our faith is based in the Word of God, the leadership of the Lord Himself and those He gives authority to. It is not from the large, impressive or, wealthy. Everyone on the field of play must acknowledge the Crew Chief, just as John the Baptist does. Jesus wears the white hat. He is in charge. We all must listen to Him.

No doubt some of you reading this have been hurt by a person in the church. I had a friend tell me last week they were told by a pastor they would lose their salvation if they married a Lutheran. I can assure you; this didn’t come down from the league office. I’ve been told that Jesus cannot forgive some sins. But the Bible says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) No matter what you’ve done, Jesus can forgive you if you turn to Him in repentance.

John the Baptist knew the Lord, listened to Him, and carried out his assigned duties. He didn’t let people who weren’t sent by the Lord, officiate his mission. John pointed to Jesus and knew the Son of God was given the authority to govern. John would say later that Jesus must increase as he decreased (John 3:30).

John and Jesus didn’t have the financial wealth, political power, or impressive offices of the Sanhedrin or of the pharisees sent to regulate them. But they did have the direction of the Lord, a solid understanding of His word and were strengthened and directed by the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Are you?
Am I?

We must learn to determine who really has authority in the church. It’s not the big or impressive people. It’s Jesus. He’s the humble savior overseeing all we do. He’s not standing on the sideline because He’s not involved. He’s there waiting to meet you as you come off the field. Get your nose in His Word and be accountable to Him. This is no time to be distracted by bad calls from hecklers.

If you were encouraged by this devotional, head over to our website and track along with our current series as we study the Gospel of John. Every week I will be posting a devotional here that relates to the passage we are in.

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