Booker T. Washington. Now I would say a majority of you know that name. But, if you are like me, you probably don't know much more than that. Our Pastor is doing a bible series on the book of John. During this study we are learning about John the Baptist and the part he played in the foretelling of Jesus in all of the gospels. Not just the book of John. He, our pastor, pointed out how the people wanted to declare a title over John the Baptist, as if John the Baptist was not enough. They said he was a prophet ... John said nope! They said he was Elijah ... yeah, still not me! Finally they said he must be the Messiah ... definitely not, John declared! Then who are you? What is your title? "Basically," he said, "I'm just a dude sent here to tell you about Jesus, the real Messiah! I am just a voice crying out in the wilderness, letting you know what is about to happen. John the Baptist was not caught up on titles. He was more about the message and getting the job done. The people all knew who he was. He was popular! He had celebrity status! The people wanted him to have a title. He rejected the titles, the popularity, the celebrity status as it were. He even told them, "Hey, I have to become less important so the one that is coming, the one I am telling you about, can shine. I must decrease so He can increase. And that is just what happened. As you can see, not much has changed over the years. People are always looking for the next big thing. After John the Baptist it was Jesus! Some people got it! They understood who Jesus was. He was the Messiah come to save the world! But most who followed Him, just followed Him around much like people today that follow celebrities or people of importance around just to get what they can from Him. In Jesus, they saw new wine, healings, thousands being fed, the dead being raised! He was the new phenom! But those that got it, well, they got it! Now back to Booker T. Washington. Like I said, I know so very little about this man. What I know, I am about to share. He was a black man in the 1800's from Alabama. That says a lot. He was an educated man. That was not a very common thing among black men or women in the 1800's. He went to college and afterwards was offered the opportunity to be the President of a trade school for black men. He, being the man that he was, had a greater calling for this trade school. He made it so much more than just a trade school, he turned it into a college, and from there it became a University. Most of you have probably heard of it. Tuskegee University! The story is told that he even had the opportunity to meet with the President of the United States. Not as a slave, but as a free man! One night as he was walking the streets of Alabama, a woman saw him walking along, not thinking anything of it, she called out to him. "My husband isn't home. How would you like to make a couple of dollars? I need someone to cut some firewood for me and bring it inside." Mr. Washington obliged the woman. Taking off his jacket, he cut up her wood and brought it inside. She thanked him and paid him. As he was leaving, one of her servants saw him and recognized him. "Why is Booker T. Washington in our house, " he asked the woman? The woman was surprised and embarrassed that she had asked a man of such renown to do such a menial task. She showed up the next day and had a meeting with him and apologized to him for not giving him the honor he deserved. She had never met him before, she had only heard of him. They did not have any relationship before that. She had asked a very menial task of him and he was humble enough to do it. After our pastor told us that story my thoughts immediately went to that is how so many of us treat Jesus. We have heard about Him. We know many things about Him. We know that He answers prayers, that He loves us, that He gave up everything for us, but we just use Him basically like an ATM machine. We ask Him for stuff and expect to receive it. We put in our ATM card by going to church, we banter His name around people when we think it appropriate to do so. And then we expect the dividends. But when it comes down to it, we really don't know Him. We don't have a relationship with Him. We are just using Him for status for ourselves or for what we can get! But just like Booker T. Washington said to the woman after she apologized, that he had no problem doing something for a friend. Neither does Jesus. Jesus answers our prayers. He loves us unconditionally. But more than anything, He wants to have a relationship with us. You see, the lady in the story, once she truly knew who Booker T. Washington was, she went to him and was welcomed in. But for those of us who don't truly know who Jesus is, even though we say we know Him, we say, "I went to church on Sunday", "I paid my tithes and offerings", "I supported missions", "I even told people that I know you Jesus!" He will say to you, "Sorry, I never knew you. Depart from me." You see, it is just as important that Jesus knows you. What kind of relationship do you have with Him? Head knowledge or heart knowledge? I want to have the kind of relationship that when I stand before Him, He says to me "Enter in my good and faithful servant!"
