seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
John 1:19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders[c] 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.’”[d]
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[e] 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.”[f]
a. John 1:19 The Greek term traditionally translated the Jews (hoi Ioudaioi) refers here and elsewhere in John’s Gospel to those Jewish leaders who opposed Jesus; also in 5:10, 15, 16; 7:1, 11, 13; 9:22; 18:14, 28, 36; 19:7, 12, 31, 38; 20:19.
b. John 1:23 Isaiah 40:3
c. John 1:26 Or in; also in verses 31 and 33 (twice)
d. John 1:34 See Isaiah 42:1; many manuscripts is the Son of God
Those Pharisees go to work early in John's Gospel. John the Baptist was a little older than Jesus. His mother, Elizabeth, was a cousin of Mary, Jesus's mom. His father was a priest in the Temple. The commentaries say that John and Jesus probably played together as children. The commentaries also say that John the Baptist probably didn't see the Messiah in his cousin until this day in the river.
John the Baptist was a popular guy. He drew quite a crowd when he preached Repentance at the River. The Romans didn't like large crowds of Jews meeting, even if it was religious.... well maybe because it was religious.... but the Romans didn't trust the descendants of Jacob[Israel] gathering in large crowds... it was dangerous, in their opinion. So when the Romans saw John the Baptist doing a "religious" thing... the Romans told the Pharisees to check it out. OR>.... the Pharisees saw the gathering crowds and told the Romans not to worry... they would handle it. Either way.... those Pharisees were there to put an end to John the Baptist.... or at least cast a little fake propaganda about him in an effort to dissuade the followers and thin the crowd.
The descendants of Jacob [Israel] were very familiar with stories of Elijah and Moses. These were two humans were special to the descendants of Jacob [Israel]. God used Moses to bring them out of Egypt to the promised land in Israel. Elijah didn't die. Elijah was a prophet and instead of dying.... he was lifted straight up to Heaven. Everybody knew about it because his sidekick was there and saw the whole event. The Pharisees asked John the Baptist if he was Elijah or Moses.... and John the Baptist told them.... "nope".
John the Baptist told the people the Messiah was coming. John the Baptist told the people the Messiah was such a big deal, that John was not even worthy to be His slave. John the Baptist also told the people that the Messiah was alive and walking earth right now.... and that bugged those Pharisees badly. See they were the ones making the laws to make sure God didn't get angry at them. Why in the world would God tell this weird guy preaching in the river about the coming of the Messiah and not His own priests?
The Pharisees asked John the Baptist, "if you aren't Elijah, or Moses, or the Messiah.... then what are you doing Baptizing people in the river" That's when John the Baptist explained that Baptism is just a sign.... a description.... a way to show a change in life.
I'm a Baptist.... I was raised Southern Baptist. Baptism and putting gold letters on a leather bound Bible are a lot the same. Putting a person's name on a Bible in gold was a big deal. It meant they had been in Sunday School and learned about the Bible. It meant that person was a church person. Baptism has a more somber meaning. The idea is... the old person dies... drowns.... and a new person raises out of the water. A human goes into the water.... A Christian comes out.... all clean and spiffy.
The Pharisees said..... "well if you're not a prophet or Moses or the Messiah... then this is just a bath". Truer words they never spoke again..... Baptism is just a bath..... but raising out of the water..... there's always a change.... because the "Spirit" wakes up.... like splashing cold water in a sleeping man's face.... there's a change.
When John the Baptist saw Jesus in the crowd.... he reacted immediately. John the Baptist didn't just recognize his cousin Jesus of Nazareth. John the Baptist was the one who spread the world about the Messiah. John the Baptist recognized the "Spirit"..... John the Baptist had felt this before.... in his mother's womb. Jesus was ready to be the Messiah.... not a child playing..... the Messiah. Jesus was here to save humanity.... and the Spirit was evident.
I have been watching Star Wars.... let me put it this way..... John the Baptist saw the force was with Jesus of Nazareth. John the Baptist knew that Jesus of Nazareth was more than just a rebel. John the Baptist saw the force in Jesus. John the Baptist didn't want to baptize Jesus. John the Baptist wanted Jesus to baptize him. Jesus responded.... "that's not the way".
Baptism doesn't save the soul. Jesus wasn't saved by John the Baptist. Baptism is a way to show... the old human life is gone.... it's time to get to work in the Christian life.
When John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the river that day.... Jesus let go of the little boy who played catch with his cousins.... and Jesus the Messiah started His ministry of Salvation. God approved....
John the Apostle doesn't describe the actual baptism. That event was reported by the other three Gospels.
