Now the Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

Have you ever had cravings for something? I have seen this first hand because my wife had cravings during our pregnancy. She craved some pretty crazy things. But the best craving she had that I remember was the night after our first child was born, she wanted pizza. She was so hungry. Then it became a tradition, and every time she had a baby, we got pizza delivered to the hospital. It was not just any pizza, but Flying Pie Pizza — the best in the valley! (It was my subtle way to incentivize her to have more babies☺.)  It was a small thing to look forward to during a long pregnancy and a challenging delivery. We, as fallen people on this earth, have cravings to sin.  In fact our sinful cravings are so strong, they make us slaves to sin. The chains of sin, though invisible, are real and palpable. John came to wake people up and help them be freed from the trappings of sin through repentance. Then, when Jesus came, they would have a clear path to him and not be blinded and deceived by sin. This is why John did not answer the question presented about who he was, but he answered a question of the heart, “Who can free me from these chains of sin?” He pointed to the Savior. He honored and elevated him who was powerful and able to save. Do I honor Jesus today and every day, with my humble heart? Will I redirect questions and/or praise to The One who is deserving of it all?
Lord, teach me to make a clearer path for Jesus in my heart today. May my passion be to pursue and point others to Him. May I crave his goodness instead of sin.