John 1:19-34
John 1:19-22 19 Now this was John s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, I am not the Messiah.
21 They asked him, Then who are you? Are you Elijah? He said, I am not. Are you the Prophet? He answered, No. 22 Finally they said, Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?
Throughout the following verses this emphatic I occurs frequently, and almost invariably there is an implied contrast with Jesus, who is always given the higher place. NIV 2011 Study Bible
Matthew 17:10-13 10 The disciples asked him, Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first? 11 Jesus replied, To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things.
12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands. 13 Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.
John 1:23 23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, Make straight the way for the Lord.
Isaiah 40:3-5 3 A voice of one calling: In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD ; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. 5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Matthew 3:1-4 1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.
3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one calling in the wilderness, Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. 4 John s clothes were made of camel s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
The Baptist applied the prophecy of Isaiah 40:3 to his own ministry of calling people to repent in preparation for the coming of the Messiah. NIV 2011 Study Bible
Luke 3:7-9 7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father. For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
John 1:24-28 24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?
26 I baptize with water, John replied, but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. 28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Luke 3:15-18 15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.
John s baptism was an outward sign of cleansing reflecting inward repentance from sin. ESV Study Bible
John 1:29-31 29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me. 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.
The Lamb of God will take away sin. How? By means of a sacrificial, substitutionary death. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Background Comment: John
1 Corinthians 5:7b 7... For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
John 1:32-34 32 Then John gave this testimony: I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God s Chosen One.
Mark 1:9-11 9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.
Life Applications Every ministry is important to the Lord We may sow and others may reap John the Baptist points us to the One who can fulfill our greatest hops and satisfy our deepest longings.
Final Thoughts Luke 7:24-28 24 After John s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 25 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces.
26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom it is written: I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you. 28 I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
Final Thoughts Malachi 3:1 1 I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come, says the LORD Almighty.
Final Thoughts Mark 1:15 15 The time has come, he said. The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!