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?”
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.’”
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.
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.”
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.
In that John was a man, he was only a man; but in that he was a voice, he was an angel, because he announced Christ.
– Augustine
Thoughts
- The Way of Humility (19-23): The account moves from eternal to historical with 7 days of a new creation, culminating in the wedding at Cana. John is an outsider who speaks truth to power, cf. Mat 3:8-12. Isa 40:3, Mal 3:1. John’s not an influencer, not a bomb-thrower, not a provocateur. He’s a herald, an “advance man.”
- The Path to Renewal (24-28): John’s baptism is for converts to Judaism. Everyone needs salvation: Rom 3:22,23 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Ancient rabbinic saying: Every service which a slave performs for his master shall a disciple do for his teacher except the loosing of his sandal-thong*. Consider: 1) John reckons himself as less than a slave, and 2) in the Upper Room, the Teacher will wash the feet of the disciples. READ: Joh 13:3-17.
- The Upside-Down Kingdom (29): The authorities are looking for prophets and kings, but John points to a lamb. The blood of the lamb saved Israel at the Passover Exo 12:3-13, and lambs were offered daily on the altar Exo 29:38-42. But now, God offers the sacrifice: Gen 22:8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And Isa 22:7b-8 He was led like a lamb to the slaughter… For he was cut off from the land of the living /for the transgression of my people he was punished.
- The Spirit Seals the Deal (30-34): God’s one and only son (μονογενής) is confirmed by the Spirit resting upon him—echoing Gen 1:2 the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. A season of favor begins Isa 61:1 ff. The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me… to proclaim the year of the LORD'S favor.* Cf. Exo 19:18 God descends in fire.
Reflections
- How does John’s deflection of attention away from himself to Jesus challenge you? Where might you be called to turn your eyes – and the eyes of others – away from yourself, to The Lamb of God? How can you be a witness to Christ’s light and grace, embracing the Good News of what He’s done for us?
