John: Deflect and Direct!

John 1:19-28

Knowing who you are is crucial. As believers, we recognize that our identity is in Jesus. In Christ, we are significant, secure, accepted, forgiven, and empowered. And in that “Who am I?” question, there is another key truth to remember. We also need to understand who we are not. 

That “Who I am not” truth rings out loud and clear from today’s passage. 

Today, we focus on the testimony of John the Baptist, a significant figure. His appearance and lifestyle were austere yet straightforward. He lived on the outskirts of Jerusalem, dressed in animal skins, and ate locusts and wild honey. You might recall that a few years ago, some evangelical leaders started promoting the “Daniel diet plan.” Interestingly, no one has tried to market the “John the Baptist diet plan!” 

John the Baptist was receiving a great deal of attention, drawing large crowds and baptizing many people. So “the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’” 

When the apostle John wants to talk about the Jews as a group of people, he describes them as the “multitude” (ochlos). When addressing the religious leaders of the day, John writes explicitly, the “Jews” (‘Ioudaioi).[1] The Jews here were the Pharisees (1:24), a large influential religious group that held to strict interpretations of the Mosaic Law.[2] Also, remember, John was writing his gospel from Ephesus at the end of the first century when believers, many who were Jews, were viewed with hostility by the Jewish leaders.[3] 

So, the Pharisees sent representatives to question John the Baptist, which was a prudent decision on their part. Let’s examine the three questions the religious leaders posed to this extraordinary prophet.  

“Who are you?”
The first question was “Who are you?” John the Baptist knew that inherent in this question was “Are you the ‘Anointed One’”? (Heb: Messiah. Greek: Christ.) The religious leaders will ask the same question of Jesus (John 8:25). Bible scholar Robert Utley notes, “John and Jesus taught and acted in ways which made the official leaders uncomfortable, because they recognized in both men certain OT eschatological themes and terms. This question, then, relates to the Jewish expectation of end-times….”[4]

In response to the “Who are you?” question, John the Baptist was adamant with his answer. 

John 1:20
[John] confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 

“Are you Elijah?” 
The prophet Malachi said that Elijah was expected to come before the Messiah (Mal. 3:1). Malachi wrote, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes” (Mal. 4:5). 

It is true that Jesus later identified John the Baptist with Elijah (Mk. 9:11ff). However, he was not referring to Elijah’s physical return. John the Baptist lived in the spirit of Elijah. So, when asked, “Are you Elijah?” John replied, “I am not” (John 1:21a).

“Are you the Prophet?” 
The third question the religious leaders asked came from an Old Testament prediction about a coming prophet like Moses. God promised Moses, “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him” (Dt. 18:18). Later Peter confirmed that Moses was talking about Jesus (Acts 3:22). We’ll consider more discussion about the “Prophet” later in John’s gospel (John 7:40-43). 

John, however, clearly indicated that he was not the “prophet” Moses mentioned. His response to the question was brief and direct: “No.” 

John’s answers grow shorter with each question: “I am not the Christ,” “I am not,” “No.” So, the religious representatives ask John to tell them who he is so they can report back to the Pharisees. Here’s John’s response, straight from Isaiah 40:3. 

John 1:23
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.” 

Remember that in our study of Isaiah, the first thirty-nine chapters emphasize that God takes sin seriously. God warned Judah (the southern kingdom) about Babylonia’s upcoming attack if they did not change their ways. Then, in Isaiah 40, the tone shifts to God’s mercy and grace, which will be shown through the Suffering Servant. Isaiah 40 begins with these words, “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God” (Isa. 40:1).  

Just as a smooth road was prepared through rugged terrain for the arrival of royalty, so John the Baptist was preparing the way for the Messiah to come with his message of salvation. Jesus was the Word. John was the “voice” preparing hearts for the coming Messiah.  

The religious leaders continue their interrogation. They asked, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” (John 1:25). John’s statement shows that he understood his purpose and remained humble.

John 1:26-27
“I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”

In New Testament times, when someone entered a house, servants would untie their sandals and wash their feet. John says that when it comes to Jesus, he considers himself too unworthy to do even a servant’s job, as he is below the status of a servant. 

Let me finish with a story. Years ago, I asked a friend to share his faith story with a group of men. He talked about his business success and how Jesus helped him achieve it. The story focused more on my friend than on Jesus. It was my fault. I hadn’t prepared him well. 

A key lesson we learn from John is this: When sharing the gospel, the emphasis should be on Jesus, not on ourselves. God is writing his story in us. The narrative centers on our Savior. We need to shift the focus away from ourselves and direct it toward Jesus. 

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD 
Time in the Word: Read and reflect on John’s powerful introduction: John 1:19-28.

Talking to God:  Ask God to help you keep the focus of your life on Jesus. 

Isaiah Zoom Call
Join us tonight! Zoom link below
Tonight is our Isaiah daily devotion series review call!
🗓️ Monday, July 7
🕖 7:00 pm
🔗 Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87416607735?pwd=aKtfrQbIpXXLxapMQ8LdaU4QyU0FZ7.1
Meeting ID: 874 1660 7735
Passcode: 838577
See you there! 

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