the Messiah.” And they asked him, “Then who are you? Elijah?” He answered, “I am not.” They said,
“Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Tell us who you are, so that
we can give some answer to those who sent us. How do you see yourself?” And John said, quoting
the prophet Isaiah, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the
Lord!” Those who had been sent were Pharisees; and they put a further question to John, “Then why
are you baptizing, if you are not the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?” John answered, “I baptize you
with water, but among you stands one whom you do not know; although he comes after me, I am not
worthy to untie the strap of his sandal.” This happened in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John
was baptizing.

Reflect

"Self-knowledge" We want our world to become a better place. We wish things to become better this
year. However, any change in the outer world only reflects the change happening within us. Mahatma
Gandhi, to cite just one spiritual leader, challenges us to become the change we want to see happening
in our world. Hence, our life needs to bear witness to the beautiful things we aspire for. Yet, our life can
only bear witness to what we ideally hope for when we begin to exercise a good sense of self-knowledge.
We can only bear witness to anything when we know our own self. In the Gospel of John, John the
Baptist is described as a witness to Jesus. His testimony or martyria of Jesus springs up from his
good sense of selfknowledge. John the Baptist knows his identity very well. He is a witness to Jesus.
He is not the Messiah. He does not exhibit a confused identity. Confused identity leads to selfentitlement.
Self-entitlement does not make our world any better. It is the opposite of humility. A truly humble person,
like John the Baptist, knows his/herself well. Thus, whenever we exercise a good sense of
self-knowledge, our world becomes a better place.

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