JOHN Chapter 1:19-34

John the Baptist Denies Being the Christ

Now this was John’s testimony

When the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites

To ask him who he was.

He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely,

I am not the Christ.

They asked him, Then who are you?

Are you Elijah?

He said I am not.

Are you the Prophet?

He answered, No.

Finally they said, Who are you?

Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us.

What do you say about yourself?

John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet,

I am the voice of one Calling in the Desert [Isa. 40:3],

Make Straight the Way for the Lord.

Now some Pharisees who had been sent questioned him,

Why then do you baptize

If you are not the Christ of Elijah, nor the Prophet?

I baptize with water, John replied,

But among you Stands One you do not know.

He is the One who comes after me,

The thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.

This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan

Where John was baptizing.

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said,

LOOK THE LAMB OF GOD, WHO TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD!

This is the One I meant when I said,

A man who comes after me has surpassed me

Because He was before me.

I myself did not know Him,

But the reason I came baptizing with water

Was that He might be revealed to Israel.

Then John gave this testimony:

I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove

And remain on Him.

I would not have know Him,

Except that the One who sent me to baptize with water told me,

THE MAN ON WHOM YOU SEE THE SPIRIT COME DOWN AND REMAIN

IS HE WHO WILL BAPTIZE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.

I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.

(John 1:19-34)

John the Baptist was sent ahead of Christ Jesus

To announce His coming to Israel;

The Messiah that they had been waiting for for hundreds of years;

The Messiah the Prophets had Foretold;

The One Who was before Creation

The One Who brought forth Creation.

John did not go into the City but rather to the Desert

And began to Proclaim the need for Israel

To Repent and be Baptized,

In preparation for the revealing of the Messiah,

And those who heard the voice of God

Went out to John the Baptist and were Baptized;

Virtually all of Israel except the religious leaders

Who were too Proud to do so.

John the Baptist was told by God

That the One he saw the Spirit of God come down and remain

Was the One Who would Baptize with the Holy Spirit,

Which happened on The Day of Pentecost;

That this One was the Son of God.