John 1:19-34 (John the Baptist)

4TH and 1
Part 3: John the Baptist’s Ministry

19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jews of 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 Christ.” 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?” 23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”

1. The Jewish leadership wanted to investigate John the Baptist because his message & activities were attracting large crowds. Indeed, his ministry is even mentioned by Josephus.
2. The people of the 1st century were waiting for various prophecies to be fulfilled. John denied that he was either the Christ, Elijah (Malachi 4:5), or The Prophet (Deut. 18:15).
3. Despite John the Baptist’s denial that he was Elijah, Jesus affirmed that John was the fulfillment of the Elijah prophecy (Matthew 11:14, Luke 1:17).
4. John did affirm, however, that he was the fulfillment of another prophecy from Isaiah 40:3.

24 Now some Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, 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 thongs 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.

1. If he wasn’t fulfilling one of these significant prophetic roles, then what business (some Pharisees wondered) did he have baptizing people (especially Jewish people!)?
2. John viewed his ministry as humble preparation for another.

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.”

1. The “Lamb of God” is an Old Testament image, probably a combination of Isaiah 53:4-12 and Exodus 12:1-11.
2. John says Jesus takes away sin
3. John says Jesus takes away the sin of the world
4. John says Jesus existed before he did
5. John says the purpose of his ministry was to reveal Jesus

32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.”

1. John had been told in advance that a sign (the Spirit coming down as a dove and remaining on Jesus) would accompany the arrival of the Lord.
2. John testified that Jesus was the Son of God.


Next Week: The First Followers (John 1:35-51)