Audio Message: John 1:19-28 John the Baptist
John 1:19–28 (NKJV) 19 Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”
22 Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the LORD,” ’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” 24 Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees.
25 And they asked him, saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. 27 It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.”
28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
John the Baptist
- John the Baptist’s parents were Zacharias and Elizabeth.
- It is believed that John was born around six months before Jesus was.
- No greater man than John had been born of a woman (Moses? Abraham? David?)
How was John the Baptist related to Jesus?
John was related to Jesus through their mothers. Jesus and John were cousins in one way or another.
When did John the Baptist’s ministry begin?
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar Luke 3:1-3 “The fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar” is understood as a reference to A.D. 29.
How did John’s arrest affect Jesus?
- Now when He [Jesus] heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee [Mt. 4:12].
- Jesus realized that this was a sign of His own rejection. In moving to Galilee and the Gentiles, He was showing that His rejection by the Jews would result in the gospel going out to the Gentiles.
What does John have to teach us about on the job morals and power?
Lk. 3:12-14: do your duty, treat people right; do nothing to take advantage of people through your position.
How famous was John the Baptist in his own day?
He would have to be popular to attract so many, and so varied a crowd. The movement he began ended up having followers in distant lands. We have information about him from outside the New Testament by Josephus
Verse 19 When news reached Jerusalem that a man named John was telling the nation to repent because the Messiah was coming, the Jews sent a committee of priests and Levites to find out who this was.
Verse 20 Other men might have seized this opportunity for fame by claiming to be the Christ.
Verse 21-22 The Jews expected Elijah to return to the earth prior to the coming of Christ or perhaps a the Prophet Moses mentioned
Verse 23 John quoted from Isaiah 40:3 where it was prophesied that a forerunner would appear to announce the coming of Christ
- The word needs a voice to make it known and the voice is of no value without a word. The Word is greater than the voice.
Verse 24-25 The Pharisees formed a strict sect of the Jews who prided themselves on their superior knowledge of the law.
- Jesus called them: blind guides ; fools ; whitewashed tombs ; dead men’s bones ; uncleanness ; serpents ; vipers ; hypocrites…
Does that sound like a mild mannered new-age love guru hippy?
Verse 26-27 John did not want anyone to think that he was important. His task was simply to prepare men for Christ.
- It was the duty of a slave or servant to untie his master’s sandals. But John did not consider himself worthy to perform such a humble, lowly service for Christ.
Verse 28 The exact location of Bethabara (or Bethany), is not known.
Remember, John the writer has already plainly declared who Jesus is… no gradual revelation… we already know He is God, Creator, Savior, the Light and the Word… and knowing that John begins tell us his eyewitness account of His life.