John the Baptist questioned by the priests and Levites
What / who were the Jewish priests?
1. Serve in the temple
2. Offer sacrifices
3. Gave blessings
4. Taught the LAW
5. Held to purity
6. Knew the LAW
7. A priest had to be from the tribe of Levi
Who were the Levites?
1. Tribe of Levi
2. Set apart for special religious duties
Care of the tabernacle
Leading worship
Knew the LAW
John was being questioned by these religious leaders.
What was John saying that made them want to question him?
He was preaching that people need to turn from their sin and be baptized. And he was baptizing many.
John baptized Jesus. This may have led people to think that John was actually greater than Jesus.
The first question they asked was "who are you"?
His response is interesting.
Verse 20: The very first thing he makes clear is that he is NOT the Messiah!!!
He was well aware of what had been being said.
John 1:15
[15] (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, This is the one I spoke about when I said, He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me . )
He is being very clear that he is NOT the Messiah.
It didn't stop there.
John 1:21
[21] They asked him, Then who are you? Are you Elijah ? He said, I am not. Are you the Prophet ? He answered, No.
Note: These Jewish leaders knew the scriptures. They knew the prophesy of the coming Messiah. But, if they truly knew the scriptures, they would realize that this couldn't be the Messiah. He did not meet the facts of the prophesy.
Read: Malachi 4: 5 & 6
[5] See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. [6] He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction .
READ: Deuteronomy 18:15 NIV
[15] The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.
They truly wanted to know who he was, but he never really gives them the answers.
But, he referred to the prophesies.
Read verses 22 thru 28
Read Isaiah 40:3.
Now we have a new twist.
There were also Pharasies present, representing another group of religious leaders.
Read verses 24 thru 28
John stated that he baptized with / in water.
This statement clearly removes his ability to take away sins.
The Pharasies knew that John was preaching about turning from sin and then he would baptized them.
He could only baptized in water. Jesus, his predecessor would baptized with / in his spirit. Not something John could do. He could not offer them the power to live a pure life. Jesus would offer His Spirit for to help with that.
Read John 1: 29 thru 34
John's testimony obviously drew people's interest. Especially after the answers he gave the Jewish leaders. Probably a "following" in order to know more of his message.
So, Jesus just happens to show up the next day.
Chance or providence?
People were very familiar with the sacrifices done in the temple.
The shedding of a lams blood for the atonement of sin.
Well,this statement validates Jesus as the LAMB that takes away the sins of the world.
Then John gets right into the reason he was preaching and baptizing. This is the reference to when he baptized Jesus and what took place at that baptism.
2 Peter 1:16-18
[16] For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. [17] He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. [18] We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.
This is the eyewitness testimony
Read 1 John 1: 35 & 36.
Yet another reference to Jesus being the LAMB OF GOD.
This is the most relevant part of John the Baptists teaching.
He has now set the stage for Jesus to take the stage.
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1. Are we like John the Baptist in an effort to lead people to Jesus?
2. We now have his Holy Spirit in us.
3. Go into all the world and preach the gospel.