
A reflection on John 1:27
Third Sunday of Advent (Year B)
©️2023 Gloria M. Chang
A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.
And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, “Who are you?” He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.” So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?” He said: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘make straight the way of the Lord,’” as Isaiah the prophet said.” Some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
John 1:6-8, 19-28
Holy Ground
John the Baptist, who recognized Jesus’ divine sonship from the womb (Luke 1:41), stooped before him as one “whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” Indeed, pilgrims for centuries have venerated the very ground trod by Christ’s sandals. Every pilgrimage site in the Holy Land testifies that “the Lord became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).

CC BY-SA 3.0 DEED, Adriatikus

Where trod Christ’s sandals,
Pilgrims light candles.
Traditional Chinese Translation
《基督的涼鞋所踏之地》
基督的涼鞋踏過的地方,
朝聖者燃起蠟燭。
