With all the technology available to us today that allows photos and videos to be edited into fictional scenes that no one can trust, it stands out how careful God was to establish everything by many eyewitnesses of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and return to heaven. It was, and it still is, the insurmountable gathering of witnesses who make clear who Jesus truly was, what he did for us, and what he will do for all those who believe in him. This study gives us one of God’s undisputable witnesses and his testimony about the Christ. There will be many more.
John Bible Study ~ John
1:19-28 ~ Who is John the Baptist?[1]
19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” (John 1 ~ ESV)
The scene set for us is after John the Baptist had been doing his work long enough that word got back to the Jewish ruling council (called the Sanhedrin) that there was a man out in the wilderness calling everyone to repentance. He was telling Jewish people that the kingdom of God was near (as though the Jews were not already in that kingdom), that repentance was required to enter the kingdom, and even speaking as though the religious elite were just as much in need of repentance as everyone else. He was baptizing people who responded to his message in repentance and faith, and this activity was having an effect on the people that made their ruling council feel they had to figure out what was going on.
Part 1: John the Baptist Questioned
John the Baptist was having enough influence on people that the religious leaders wanted to know who he thought he was. This was of particular significance because they were waiting for the Christ (or Messiah) to come and needed to know if John claimed to be him. This section rules out who John was not, something that is very important in understanding who John was and why we should still listen to him today.
19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” (John 1)
1. The central question here is, “Who are you?” What are some issues that come into play when considering someone’s identity?
2. The “Who are you” question is followed by a checklist of figures the Jewish people expected would show up at some time. If John the Baptist claimed to be any of those figures, it would mean that all the prophecies about that person applied to him. What is John making clear about himself in his responses?
3. What does John’s experience tell us about what anyone should expect if they fulfill their calling to be who they are as a child of God?
4. At this point in the unfolding scenes of Jesus coming into the world, which of the characters best represents how you see yourself in relation to the Savior?
Part 2: John the Baptist’s Answer
We have considered how ruling out the wrong ideas of John the Baptist had to be done first, so now we look at what he said was the true story of his identity and work, and how that applies to us to this day.
23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” (John 1)
1. What does it mean that John is now making a claim about himself that goes back to a prophecy that someone would one day come and call people to “Make straight the way of the Lord”?
2. What does John’s claim tell us we need to believe about Jesus?
3. What does John’s claim tell us we need to believe about ourselves?
4. What would we need to do to “Make straight the way of the Lord” in our own lives today?
Part 3: John the Baptist and Jesus
Because John the Baptist’s work was to prepare the way for Jesus, he now turns the spotlight to the Savior and his glory. This is where the spotlight will remain for the rest of this gospel record.
24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. (John 1)
1. The messengers of the religious elite could not understand why John would be baptizing when he wasn’t one of the three figures the prophets had spoken about. How does John’s answer show that he was making a straight way for the Lord as the prophets had spoken about him?
2. Why is it so important for us to understand the ministry of John the Baptist if he was not the Christ?
3. What does John the Baptist want us to believe about the Christ in relation to ourselves?
4. How much impact is John’s testimony having on you?
Conclusion: Hearing, Seeing, Joining
After looking at John’s insistence about who he was not, and his clarification about who he was in relation to the Christ:
1. What do you hear God speaking to you about?
2. What do you see God doing in you through this part of his word?
3. How are you going to join God in his work?
[1] Here is a link to a .doc version of this Bible study to download for prayer journaling: https://www.dropbox.com/s/roh2q4h35r4fp1n/0005%20-%20John%201_19-28%20-%20Who%20is%20John%20the%20Baptist.docx?dl=0
Here is a link to a .pdf version of this Bible study to print: https://www.dropbox.com/s/cx78jfk7ckvpkg5/0005%20-%20John%201_19-28%20-%20Who%20is%20John%20the%20Baptist.pdf?dl=0
© 2021 Monte Vigh ~ Box 517, Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8
Email: in2freedom@gmail.com
Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures are from the
English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text
Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of
Good News Publishers.)
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