In The Word
Read: John 1:19-34
The Testimony of John the Baptist
19 This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites to him from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 And he confessed and did not deny; and this is what he confessed: “I am not the Christ.” 21 And so they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he *said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you? Tell us, so 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 calling out in the wilderness, ‘Make the way of the Lord straight,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”
24 And the messengers had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, and said to him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, saying, “I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know. 27 It is He who comes after me, of whom I am not worthy even to untie the strap of His sandal.” 28 These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing people.
29 The next day he *saw Jesus coming to him, and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is He in behalf of whom I said, ‘After me is coming a Man who has proved to be my superior, because He existed before me.’ 31 And I did not recognize Him, but so that He would be revealed to Israel, I came baptizing in water.” 32 And John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. 33 And I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
John the Baptist’s mother was Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s cousin was Yeshua’s mother, Mary. John the Baptist’s father was visited by the angel Gabriel to tell about his birth and prophesy that John would be a forerunner for the Messiah (Luke 1:11-20). John grew strong in God, and taught about the repentance of sins and the baptism of water. The Jews were familiar with baptism, as they would baptize to purify the physical body from the outside, but they did not know about a baptism of repentance. This made the Pharisees curious, so they sent some priests and Levites to question John.
When John the Baptist was asked what he would say about himself, he referenced the word in Isaiah 40:3, “A voice is calling, ‘Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.’ ” This is accounted for in all four of the Gospels. John understood that he was not the Messiah, but he was the one sent to proclaim Him and to make a way for Him. John even said he could only baptize with water, but Christ would come and baptize with the Holy Spirit.
Today, we understand this truth that Yeshua has the power to cleanse us from the inside out when we repent of our sins and confess Him as Lord. Then we should follow through with baptism in water, just as He did. If you have become a new creation in Christ, then I challenge you to be a John the Baptist in your family, workplace, and everywhere you go. Be unashamed and proclaim the gospel of Yeshua in your actions and words.