The Witness of John the Baptist

KEY VERSE: “I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.” —John 1:34

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: John 1:19-34

WHEN JOHN THE Baptist began his ministry he attracted the attention of many prominent people in Jerusalem, including the Pharisees. John baptized repentant Jews who came to him from Jerusalem, Judea and the whole region around Jordan. Even some priests and Levites went to him from Jerusalem to ask him questions. They asked John if he were the Christ—the Messiah. All the people were in expectation of Messiah at that time (Luke 3:15), and it was wondered whether John was this promised one. But John answered plainly that he was not the Messiah.

This expectation of Messiah’s coming was most likely based on the prophecy of Daniel 9:24-27. Certainly the prophecy of Malachi 4:5,6, must have been the inspiration for the priests asking John if he were Elijah—Elias—and again John’s reply was in the negative. Likewise, they were no doubt thinking of the words of Moses recorded in Deuteronomy 18:17-19 concerning a prophet that God would raise up “like unto Moses,” when they asked John if he were ‘that prophet’; and again John said, “No.”

When some pressed John to tell them who he was, the answer given was a quotation from the prophecy of Isaiah 40:3: “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Their response was to ask John why he was baptizing if he were not ‘Messiah’, or ‘Elias’, or ‘that prophet’. It is interesting to note that the Pharisees expected baptism to be an important part of the work of these great personages. (John 1:25) John explained to them that his work of baptism was merely to introduce the Messiah.

Israel had strayed from the Law, and John’s work was to make them aware of their need for repentance and reinstatement into covenant relationship with God. John knew the true heart condition of these interrogators. As recorded of John in Matthew 3:7-9, he said: “When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance; and think not to say within yourselves, we have Abraham to our Father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.”

Although John told them about Messiah’s coming and how he would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire, yet he knew that they would not be able to recognize him. He said: “There standeth one among you, whom ye know not.”—John 1:26

John’s witness was to those whose hearts were sincere and who were true worshippers of God. When John saw Jesus the next day, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) The Holy Spirit, God’s influence, revealed to John that a sign would be given to him that would absolutely identify the Messiah.

Jesus went to John to be baptized by him. This confused John. He said to Jesus, “I have need to be baptized of thee.” (Matt. 3:14) In his Gospel, Matthew wrote: “Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: and lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”—Matt. 3:16,17

Baptism had taken on a whole new meaning. From that time forward, it symbolized being fully immersed into the will of God.

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