Day 18

John 1: 6-8

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.

He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.

The Warm Up Act

If you have ever been to a pop or rock concert you will be familiar with the ‘warm up’, or ‘support act’. This is a less well-known band or solo artist who are given a slot at the beginning of the concert to get the crowd in the mood, loosened up and ready to hear more. By the time the “big name” comes on everyone is eager to listen and enjoy the show.

John was Jesus’ “warm up act”. His ministry was to get people ready for when Jesus “came on stage”, to give them a taste of what God was doing and also a desire to hear more. John never made any claims to be the “main act”, he was always quite clear that he was the support act. Jesus gave the disciples the ongoing task of sharing the good news of the Kingdom; a different way of living, a new kind of relationship with God and the promise of life with him that would never end.

This same commission has been passed down to the church over the centuries. So, if John was the “warm up act” you could say that we (the church) are a bit like the Tribute Band; a group of people who try to look and act like Jesus, singing the same songs and keeping the same message alive.

Linda