Anchor My Faith

John, who are You?

Scripture: John 1:19-21

With this lesson we begin a new section and a new segment of travel along the gospel path we are on. The lessons in this section will cover the testimony of John the Baptist as he identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. These lessons will come from John 1:19 – 34. This lesson also begins the first week of Jesus’ ministry.

Day 1: “And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”” (John 1:19 ESV). The activities of John and the crowds he has drawn has not gone unnoticed, especially by the Jews who represent hostel Jewish opponents of Jesus; both leaders and the people who follow them. This opposition initially begins with John because he is so outspoken, but will soon transfer to Jesus.

The Sanhedrin is made up of two groups: priests and Levites. The Sanhedrin, had, among other things, the charge of religion. They felt it was their responsibility to inquire into the character and claims of John, and learn whether he was the Messiah. Members of the Sanhedrin were, therefore, sent to investigate who John was.

The inquirers arrive and ask John the question and “He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”’ (John 1:20 ESV). By this confession, John clearly shows that he is a forerunner of Jesus and not an impostor. With the large crowds that were gathering around John and with the expectation running high that the Messiah was soon to come, it would have been easy for John to have claimed that he was the Messiah and made it much more difficult for Jesus to establish himself as the true Messiah. However, John remained true to his calling and was willing to lay aside any personal honor in favor of the one to which it truly belongs. To stay in the background and hold up before the world only the Son of God is one eminent mark of the true spirit of a minister of the gospel.

John, having confessed that he was not the Christ, the Messiah, “. . . they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”’ (John 1:21 ESV). Those who came to inquire of John as to who he was, knew he was someone important so they asked more questions. They asked if he was Elijah, who never died but “went up by a whirlwind into heaven” (2 Kings 2:11) and was expected to return in the end times: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes” (Malachi 4:5 ESV). Even though John had many characteristics of Elijah, he denied that he was Elijah.

They then asked if he was the Prophet. This may be reference to the prophet Moses spoke of in Deuteronomy 18:15 (NASB): “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him.” This prophet was expected during the time of Jesus: “When the people saw the sign that [Jesus] had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”’ (John 6:14 ESV). To that question, John answered “No.”

Prayer

Father, each lesson is one lesson closer to the Lamb of God, in the person of Jesus, to come to the center of the stage. In this lesson John cleared himself of being the Christ and humbled himself to the position of being the forerunner of Jesus, the Messiah. We need to take note of how John responded to the questions asked and be careful when we are tempted to claim a position or honor that is not rightfully ours.