Not a Good Example!
As a Christian, I am in a church community that 'makes something' of a season prior to Christmas, called Advent. Advent means 'arrival', and points us to the arrival of Jesus at his birth, and the arrival of Jesus at his coming-appearing, at the close of history as we know it (the telos), and at the full unveiling (revelation) of the wholly renewed creation, where evil no longar has any place. A thrilling prospect!
One of the most helpful things to learn from John the Baptiser, is that he does not point to himself. He always points away from himself and towards Jesus. He cries out "Look! the Lamb of God. He takes away the sins of the world. I am not worthy even to untie his smelly sandals (or similar)". He is saying: 'Look how great this man Jesus really is.'
John 1:6-8 says:
There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
How often the cliche` has been heard in Christian circles: 'we must be a good example to others'. I suggest the best way to do that is to 'not be a good example', but rather, to point to the greatness of Jesus, the Christ.
Set out to be good example, in, and of yourself, and you may find that you are not such a good example. What then?
The Apostle Paul, the Christian Paul, the new man Paul, still called himself the chief of sinners. And he said to imitate his example. And what was that?
Once again, 'we preach not ourselves' but Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
