19 And this is the witness of John, when the Jews sent unto him from Jerusalem priests and Levites to ask him, Who art thou? 20 And he confessed, and denied not; and he confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou the prophet? 22 And he answered, No. They said therefore unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said Isaiah the prophet. 24 And they had been sent from the Pharisees. And they asked him, and said unto him, Why then baptizest thou, if thou art not the Christ, neither Elijah, neither the prophet? 26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water; in the midst of you standeth one whom ye know not, even he that cometh after me, the latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to unloose. 28 These things were done in Bethany beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29 On the morrow he seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is become before me: for he was before me. 31 And I knew him not; but that he should be made manifest to Israel, for this cause came I baptizing with water. 32 And John bare witness, saying, I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven; and it abode upon him. 33 And I knew him not; but he that sent me to baptize with water, he said unto me, Upon whomsoever thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and abiding upon him, the same is he that baptizeth with the Holy Spirit. 34 And I have seen, and have borne witness that this is the Son of God. John 1:19–34, R. V.
Questions.
What question was asked of John?
Who asked it? Who sent the questioners?
What reply did John make?
With what specific questions did they urge their inquiry? What reply did John make in each case?
In order to have some answer to carry back to Jerusalem what did they further ask?
What did John then declare himself to be?
To what sect did his questioners belong?
What did they question his right to do? Why?
With what did John say he baptized?
Whom did he say stood among them? Was his work earlier or later than that of John?
What estimate did John put upon his own unworthiness?
Where did these things happen?
Whom did John see the next day?
Under what figure did he speak of Christ and his work?
What testimony did he bear to his superiority?
What does he now say was the purpose of his baptizing?
What does he declare that he had seen?
Of what had this been declared to be the sign? Who told him?
As a result of seeing this sign what record did he bear?
Notes.
1. John’s work made a great stir (Mark 1:4, 5), and a general belief that it was time for the Messiah led to a spirit of inquiry concerning this man of the wilderness (Luke 3:15). The excitement became so great that even the Sanhedrin sent an official deputation to John, which asked him, “Who art thou?” In the dialogue which follows John makes a formal proclamation that the Messiah had come, and was indeed present among them, but unknown by every one except John himself. The literal basis of the figurative reply of John may be found in “the practice of eastern monarchs, who, whenever they entered upon an expedition or took a journey, especially through desert countries, sent harbingers before them to prepare all things for their passage, and pioneers to open the passes, to level the ways, and to remove all impediments.”
2. “The rabbis said, ‘Every office which a servant will do for his master a scholar should perform for his teacher, except loosing his sandal thong.’ But this exceptionally menial office the Baptist declares he was not worthy to perform for Jesus.”
3. Sacrificial offerings of animals could not avail (Heb. 10:4), but the death of Christ met every demand for all time (Heb. 9:15) and for the whole world (1 John 2:2). “When, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, John had pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God, a new light was shed upon the Saviour’s mission.”
4. “In the throng gathered at the Jordan there were many who had been present at the baptism of Jesus, but the sign then given had been manifest to but few among them. Spiritual things are spiritually discerned. Eyes that had never been turned in faith to him that is invisible, beheld not the revelation of the glory of God, nor heard the voice from heaven. So it is now. Often the presence of Christ and of the ministering angels is manifest in the assemblies of the people, and yet there are many who know it not. They discern nothing unusual. But to some the Saviour’s presence is revealed.”
Suggestions for Further Study.
1. Carefully observe the leading thoughts in the teaching of John. The blood of the Lamb, and the baptism of the Spirit, were the two central truths of his creed and his preaching—Jesus the Lamb taking away sin, Jesus the Anointed baptizing with the Spirit.
2. Three names are given in this lesson for Christ: The Lamb of God, the Baptizer with the Holy Ghost, and the Son of God.
3. Note the new names introduced in this lesson: The Jews (Pharisees), Elias, Isaiah, and Israel. The new places: Jerusalem, and Bethabara (or Bethany, see R. V.).
4. Observe the humility of John in his estimate of Christ (verses 15, 27, and 30), and then read Christ’s estimate of John, in Luke 7:28.
5. Consider that the Spirit not only descended upon Christ, but that it abode upon him.
