John 1:19-34(ESV)

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[a] the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

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.

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son[b] of God.”

Questions For Discussion & Reflection:

·     How does the background help you understand John 1:19-34?

·     Where else in the Gospels are we told about John the Baptist? What does it tell us about him?

·     How does John the Baptist continually point to Christ as the main focus of the narrative?

·     Application:

o  How do we find our identity when Christ is the center and focus of our lives?

o  What does it look like to actually live and walk by the Spirit throughout your week?

    Key Themes:

·     Pay attention to the background! The background often reveals to us why certain things are said, and often why certain things are not said.

·     There is curiosity and also confusion about John the Baptist. This has primarily to do with the way God revealed Himself in the Old Testament. Throughout all the Old Testament, God spoke through the prophets.

Prophet, Priest & King:

·     John answers this question by explaining that he is not the Messiah—not the promised deliverer & King. 

·     He is not Elijah, which is a reference to Malachi 4:5, where there was an expectation that Elijah would come as a priest before the day of the Lord.

·     John the Baptist is not these things (interesting he reveals his identity by what he is not). Rather he is “preparing the way of the Lord.” Which is a reference to Isaiah 40:1-5.

John’s Baptism:

·     Baptism wasn’t a new thing. There were other baptisms that occurred, all around special cleansing ceremonies.

Behold The Lamb of God:

·     Jesus comes into the narrative for the first time and we get another picture of John and Christ’s relationship. “After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.”

·     John the Evangelist, is showing us how John the Baptist is pointing to Christ. Again John the Baptist is pointing to Christ. Its not about him, its about Jesus!