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More John commentaries
John 1:1-9
Snapshots of the Lord’s Life
John 1:10-18
Only One Way to Experience Salvation
John 1:19-34
John was asked “Why baptize?”
John 1:35-51
Transition Between Ministries
John 2:1-11
Changing Water into Wine
John 2:12-25
Jesus Turns Over the Tables
John 3:1-12
How to be Born Again
John 3:13-21
What does it mean to believe?
John 3:22-36
John’s Disciples are Jealous of Jesus
John 4:1-15
Jesus Meets the Samaritan Women
John 4:16-30
It is not Where You Worship But How
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John was asked “Why baptize?”
John 1:19–34
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
A Methodist church contacted the pastor of a large downtown Baptist church and made an unusual request. They had several who had recently joined their church who wanted to be baptized by immersion rather than sprinkling, the church’s normal mode of baptism. Their minister request … More
The Sanhedrin is alarmed at the ministry of John the Baptist, so they send a delegation of theologians to question him. Their first question was, “Who art thou?” (v. 19). His answer was short and simple; “I am not the Christ” (v.20). Then they asked him; “Art thou Elias (Elijah)?” (v. 21). The prophet Elijah was expected because of Deuteronomy 18:15. John stated that he was not any of the expected prophetic figures. He explained, however that his ministry was described in the Old Testament. (Isaiah 40:3) and that he was a fulfillment of that prophecy.
It is evident that this investigating committee is also very concerned about all the people John is baptizing so they ask “Why baptizest thou then?” (v.25). John explains that his baptism was in water, but Jesus would come and baptize with a Spiritual baptism. What he was doing is only a sign of what Christ will do with the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:8). The baptism of Jesus is not recorded in John’s Gospel but John testifies that he had been told by God the Father that when the sign of the dove would occur, the person so marked would be “the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world” (v.29). Perhaps John was not sure that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God but the Father made it clear to him who Jesus was by sending the Spirit like a dove to light on Him (vv. 32-33). This was certainly a beautiful picture of the trinity.
Application
John came to point people to Jesus. I need to think of people I know who need someone to point them to Jesus Then I need to be willing to be that pointer,
John 1:19-34 (English Standard Version)
And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ." And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No." So they said to him, "Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said." (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) They asked him, "Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?" John answered them, "I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie." These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.' I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel." And John bore witness: "I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."
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