In The Word
Read: John 1:19-34
The Testimony of John
19 This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 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, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”
24 Now they 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, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
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 on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ 31 I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.” 32 John testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. 33 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 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 Yahshua’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 Yahshua 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 Yahshua in your actions and words.