January 19, 2023
Lacking Worth
“It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.”
John 1:27-28 (NASB)
Years ago, I competed in a Police and Fire International Games competition in Orlando, Florida. I entered the powerlifting competition for my age and weight class. I was in the prime of my life in lifting. I thought I had a pretty good chance of competing against people who were coming from all over the world. I was sadly mistaken when I arrived. I wasn’t worthy to compete against some of the lifters. You see, two weeks before that I had torn the quadricep muscle in my left leg. The leg wasn’t worthy of holding my own body weight. Would I still compete? Yes. Money had been paid already, but I knew I had no chance. In the first hour of the competition, I saw a Japanese man “warming up” for his deadlift with about 500 lbs. on the bar. I felt hopeless. I competed anyway, knowing I wasn’t worthy of winning anything. In the end, lifting very light weights in the squat and deadlift, I finished. In the end, I won two gold medals! How? The competitors never arrive in my class and weight. I did break a personal record in bench-press though. How humbling and yet hilarious that God allowed this victory. God allowed me to see He paved the way for the victory before I arrived. I still didn’t feel worthy though, but I did have two medals.
When John the Baptist explained the coming of the Savior, he too knew he was unworthy. He explained, “… I am not worthy to untie.” The word “worthy” is Axios in the Greek language. It means of weight, or of worth. Feet are the most unclean part of the body in this era. To clean someone’s feet is an unworthy task normally given to the lowest member of the household. It is also a necessary part of life too. “Where the soil is dry and dusty and sandals or similar footwear is worn, frequent washing of the feet is not only a luxury, but a necessity for comfort and health. It is, also, extremely refreshing, as anyone knows who has bathed their feet in cool water when they’re dusty and hot.”[1] John considered himself unworthy to even unloose Jesus sandals, let alone wash them. John knew he was not of any worth compared to the One who was coming.
You and I are not worthy to enter God’s kingdom as sinners before salvation. This why John the Baptist’s call to all in Matthew 3:2 was, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” We need to repent first, and then ask for forgiveness. This begins with a conviction that only the Holy Spirit can begin. He shows us our condition before a holy God. Unworthy. When it is revealed to us, we realize how unworthy we are. We need the forgiveness of God; and it can only come through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. When we do, we are accepted, adopted, reborn, and forgiven. We are worthy because of what Christ did on the cross and through His resurrection we have eternal life with Him one day.
Today, don’t use this worthiness to become haughty or conceited because of what Christ did for you. Recognize with humility, as John the Baptist, Who forgave you and made you worthy.
[1] James M. Freeman and Harold J. Chadwick, Manners & Customs of the Bible (North Brunswick, NJ: Bridge-Logos Publishers, 1998), 25.