Moments to Ponder

Episode 120: Embracing Second Chair Leadership: Lessons from John the Baptist (John 1:19-51)

• Betsy Marvin • Season 15 • Episode 120

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Ever wondered how embracing a supporting role can shape your leadership journey? Join me, Betsy Marvin, as I weave a personal narrative from my high school band days, playing the flute, to explore the profound concept of "second chair" leadership. Through the lens of John the Baptist, who perfectly embodied the essence of humility and purpose in a supporting role, we explore how true leadership often requires knowing when to lead and when to support. 

As we delve into the Gospel of John, discover how the introduction of Jesus paints a vivid picture of his divine purpose.  Through the compelling stories of Andrew, Philip, and Nathaniel, learn about the transformative power of acknowledging Jesus's rightful place in our lives and the unique way he calls each of us to witness life’s greater things. Together, we'll explore how feeling seen and known by God can redefine our understanding of faith and leadership. 

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Speaker 1:

Hi friends, welcome to Moments to Ponder. This podcast is here to guide you on your journey through God's Word, offer some fresh insights and leave you with a thought to ponder throughout the upcoming week. I'm Betsy Marvin and this is episode 120. Does anyone else have high school band memories?

Speaker 1:

I played the flute and I actually really liked it. Making music was a great way to spend a school hour. But as hard as I practiced, I could never quite get that coveted first chair. The girl that held first chair for the flute section was just so good and by our senior year I didn't even challenge the chair anymore. I held on to second chair like it was my job.

Speaker 1:

But being in the second chair can feel well. You're not number one, are you? If you're not careful, sitting in that second place can affect who you are. It's not earth shattering in high school band, but when it comes to life and leadership, sitting in the second chair can be frustrating as you wait for that promotion or recognition. It can make you question your abilities, affect how you follow the one that's in the first chair and often, if the wait's too long, leaders go elsewhere and take a first chair in a new organization. This isn't wrong, it's reality, it's business. In a new organization. This isn't wrong, it's reality, it's business. Strong leaders will seek out a way to be in that coveted seat. I mean, cheerleaders don't go around chanting we're number two, we're number two. But there are a few, those few strong leaders that willingly sit in the second chair, whether it's the vision of the organization, the influence they have from that position or the respect they have for the leader they choose to own the second chair.

Speaker 1:

As you'll see, in the very first verses of our section today, there was a strong leader and his name was John, john the Baptizer, to be specific, and he had quite a following, including his own disciples. People came from all over to hear him and be baptized. One commentary mentioned that John may have baptized thousands of people. He was known far and wide. In fact, he was so well known that he drew the attention of the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem. We begin with verse 19 of chapter 1.

Speaker 1:

This was John's testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, who are you? He came right out and said I am not the Messiah. Well then, who are you? They asked Are you Elijah? No, he replied Are you the prophet? We are expecting. No, then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself? John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah I am a voice shouting in the wilderness clear the way for the Lord's coming. Then the Pharisees who had been sent asked him If you aren't the Messiah, or Elijah or the prophet, what right do you have to baptize? John told them I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize, though his ministry follows mine, I am not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.

Speaker 1:

This encounter took place in Bethany, an area east of the Jordan River where John was baptizing. The next day, john saw Jesus coming toward him and said look the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He's the one I was talking about when I said a man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me. I didn't recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptized him with water so that he might be revealed to Israel. Then John testified I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. I didn't know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me the one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the chosen one of God.

Speaker 1:

The following day, john was again standing with two of his disciples as Jesus walked by. John looked at him and declared Look, there is the Lamb of God. When John's two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus. John the Baptist was a relative of Jesus. He knew him. Their mothers were related, and I wonder if these boys saw each other quite a bit growing up. John tells his disciples that he didn't know Jesus was the chosen one until the Holy Spirit revealed it to him. So it must have been quite a moment for him to realize that his cousin of sorts was actually the Lamb of God. Yet there's, no doubt, no rivalry, no competition for followers or even for attention. John points to Jesus, the Jewish leaders reference Elijah, the Messiah and a prophet, referring to the prophecies in Deuteronomy, isaiah and Malachi. And yet to each question John says no, I am not that one, but I know him. John was preparing the way, purposely sitting in the second chair, so that as soon as the one showed up even though John didn't know it would be Jesus he had paved the way for the one to come. If you aren't familiar with the baptism story of Jesus, it's found in the other Gospels and it might interest you to know that, according to their writing, jesus went directly into the wilderness for 40 days after his baptism and while he was there he was tempted by Satan in many ways. When we come to these verses, our author uses past tense, which implies to us that this encounter is after those wilderness days and John the baptizer is recalling the baptism of Jesus as he sees him walking by. When we get to the following day, meaning the day after this happened which you gotta love the detail here the following day, two of John the Baptist's disciples leave him to follow Jesus, and he's absolutely okay with it. That's the whole point of John's ministry to repair the way for the one to come. So many of us in our current culture would not be okay with pointing the way to someone else to come. In verse 37, we read that two of the disciples of John heard what was said of Jesus. This holy, humble, bold man paved the way for our author believed to be one of the disciples here, along with Andrew that left John to follow Jesus. So let's go back into chapter one and we'll start at verse 35. The following day, john was again standing with two of his disciples as Jesus walked by. John looked at him and declared Look, there is the Lamb of God. When John's two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus. Jesus looked around and saw them following. What do you want, he asked them. They replied Rabbi, which means teacher. Where are you staying? Come and see, he said. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day. Okay, just a side note here, but this was such a profound moment for John that he even notes the time of day To be told come and see by this rabbi and then spend extended time with him. This was the moment his life changed. We'll go back into verse 40.

Speaker 1:

Andrew Simon, peter's brother, was one of these men who had heard what John said and then followed Jesus. Andrew went to find his brother, simon, and told him we have found the Messiah, which means Christ. Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, jesus said your name is Simon, son of John, but you will be called Cephas, which means Peter. The next day, jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him Come, follow me.

Speaker 1:

Philip was from Bethsaida, peter and Andrew's hometown. Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him we have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about. His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth. Nazareth, exclaimed Nathanael, can anything good come from Nazareth? Come and see for yourself. Philip replied as they approached Jesus said approached. Jesus said now, here is a genuine son of Israel, a man of complete integrity. How do you know about me, Nathaniel asked. Jesus replied I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you. Then Nathaniel exclaimed Rabbi, you are the son of God, the king of Israel. Jesus asked him do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this. Then he said I tell you the truth. You will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth. There's a lot.

Speaker 1:

In this section we learn that Philip, andrew and Peter, along with James and John, are all from Bethsaida. These young men would have known each other quite well, having grown up in that small town. As Nathaniel is also invited to follow, there are now six young men following Jesus. I'm assuming that, as Andrew found Simon, john went home and found James. These are the first witnesses. I mean think about it. Andrew and John came to Jesus because of the preaching of John the Baptist. Peter came to Jesus because of the witness of his brother, andrew. Philip came to Jesus as a direct result of Jesus calling him, and Nathaniel came to Jesus just by meeting him.

Speaker 1:

Our author, john, is setting the stage Even in this first chapter, is setting the stage Even in this first chapter. Did you notice how many names he gave for Jesus? John the Baptist called Jesus eternal, uniquely anointed with the Holy Spirit, the Lamb of God and the Son of God. Andrew called him the Messiah, the Christ. Philip said he was the one prophesied in the Old Testament, and Nathaniel called Jesus the Son of God and the King of Israel. Our author has made it clear, through the words of those who followed Jesus from the beginning, that Jesus is God, the one that already existed, who was with God and is God Basically, he's telling us I'm using all these names so that you have no doubt who Jesus is and who we know him to be.

Speaker 1:

So what do we take away from this first section of chapter one? The first thing I see is the need for surrender as we follow Jesus. From John the baptizer, who willingly pointed the way and then stepped aside, humbly placing Jesus in his rightful place, we see surrender, and when we apply this to us, the surrender of John shows us that we too need to make sure that Jesus maintains that first place in our lives. We're called to point the way to him, to show others who he is and help them follow him as well. The other takeaway I see here is the pursuit that we see in Jesus. Note some of the words that Jesus says. He says Come and see. Come and follow me. I have a new name for you, so come and follow me. I could see you under the fig tree.

Speaker 1:

You might not know this, but it was uncommon for a rabbi to call his disciples. It was actually the role of the follower to ask if they could become a disciple of a rabbi. The rabbi would wait for disciples to come to him, yet Jesus calls them to come to him. Yet Jesus calls them. He says follow me and come. He sees them, which in turn means he sees us and he calls us. He pursues us.

Speaker 1:

We can see the character of God here. God, the one who pursues, the one who sees calling to us to come and receive and be with Jesus, told Nathanael and the others. I tell you the truth. You will see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth. Jesus, the stairway, the one that will create the way to fully commune with God and his earthly ministry is about to begin. Oh dear one, may you place Jesus in the first chair of your life, surrendering to his leadership and his guidance. He's the one that calls you by name, saying come and see. May you know that you are seen and known by God. Just as he knew Nathaniel, he knows you. And also, like Nathaniel, we are going to see even greater things. You are loved, amen.