John 1 19-28

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John 1:19-28

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Now this was John's testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levitesto ask him who he was.

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He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Messiah."

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They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?"He said, "I am not.""Are you the Prophet?"He answered, "No."

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Finally they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. Whatdo you say about yourself?"

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John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in thewilderness, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.' "

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Now the Pharisees who had been sent

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questioned him, "Why then do you baptize if youare not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"

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"I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know.

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He is theone who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."

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This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Five Words Every Mother Should Know

Sisters and brothers in Christ,This is my first Mother’s Day sermon. It’s not that I haven’t preached on Mother’s Day before – I have – this is my fifth timearound. But I’ve never preached a sermon for Mother’s Day.It’s actually quite common. I picked up the aversion from my peers. I’ve heard many pastor’s I know and respect tell me thatthey don’t preach Mother’s Day sermons. This is a Hallmark holiday – they say – it comes from the world and not from theChurch.Honestly – I think it’s because they’re chicken. Mother’s Daysermons are scary. I’ve been working on this message all week andI’ve been terrified that I’m going to say something terribly wrongand from every direction I’m going to get “the look.”I’ve done some research – I’ve seen some of the sermons that havecome out for Mother’s Day…How to Raise Your Children…Howto be a Godly Mom…How to be a Woman of Faith…

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…all these pastors with the best of intentions…trying to tell momswho they should be…all without understanding something that isincredibly important: Every mom is different.Gifts, abilities, backgrounds, ambitions. Motherhood is dynamicand my hope this morning is not to tell you who you should be – but to share with you grace for who you are.This morning as we celebrate motherhood in all of it’s diversity weturn to the Scriptures and from them I would like to share with youfive words that every mother – and really every Christian shouldknow:

YOU ARE NOT THE CHRIST

I’ll repeat them again so that we’re clear on what we’re talkingabout this morning…

I. YOU ARE NOT THE CHRIST

Now I doubt that anyone here actually believes that they are. Andwhen I say that you’re not the Christ – you are probably thinkingin your head – “Well, I know that.”Most of you know who the Christ is – in fact, you have arelationship with God because of him. Who we are as Christians,as the ones who follow the Christ, what we believe and how weapproach the world is shaped by this Jesus who the Scriptures pronounce and the Holy Spirit testifies in our hearts to be theChrist.I’m wouldn’t suggest for a moment that you don’t who the Christis. What I’d like to suggest to you this morning, however, is thatwhile you may know Jesus – while you may know that he is the

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Christ – there are probably areas in your life where

you

feel like

you

still have to be.Think about it this way: When you know company is comingwhat’s the first thing most people do? They start cleaning…in eventhe most immaculate of households people find something that can be dusted or cleaned off.And when the time gets close to the arrival of your guests – especially if you have energetic children – there may be one or twolow priority rooms that you can’t get to and so you close the door so that they won’t see the mess.Some people have this sense that for God to come into their livesthat they have to clean up all the dirty spots first – and that it’s ok for God to be in the clean spots but the rest are behind closed doorsthat we don’t want him to see until after we’ve cleaned up.There is this reality that we live with – that while we have faith it’snot perfect, while we are healing we’re not whole, and while wewant God to have access to 100% of us there are still areas of our lives that we keep closed off from him…Here’s a good question for you to ask your kids around the dinner table when you’re having family devotions:

What sins are too big for God to forgive?

You might get some interesting answers. I know that when I’veasked the question to different groups of teenagers I’ve heard listsof things that they think are really bad..The theologically minded teenager may even impress you bysaying that there is only one sin that God won’t forgive and that’sthe sin against the Holy Spirit. (A brief aside on that: if you are

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