Questions, Questions

There was a TV show on several decades ago called To Tell the Truth.  On this show, were the host and a few stars who served as panelists.  Then three contestants would enter the room.  They each would introduce themselves as a particular person, by all three giving the same name.  However, only one of them was really that person.  The panelists would then hear a story about this individual and from there they would ask the three contestants various questions, trying to figure out who was the actual person.  At the end of the show, the announcer would state “Would the real ????   ????? please stand up?”  At that point, the real person would stand.  The object was that all three individuals would fool as many people as possible.

In today’s passage of Scripture, there were a lot of questions.  The Jewish people, including the priests, Levites, and Pharisees found themselves wondering  just who this individual was who was preaching; and what exactly was he talking about to the crowds.

Let’s get a little perspective from our own lives. Have you ever had a child or someone else come up to you and ask if you were Jesus?  This happens on occasion to various people.  Why do you suppose that is?  Could it be that how that person speaks and lives reminds the child or other individual of how Jesus lived?  

I would suggest that Our words and our walk should cause people to have questions about Jesus.  They should wonder if we are Jesus or if we could help them to know Jesus.

Today, we’ll be looking at four different questions that this passage will help answer. So, put on your Sherlock Holmes’ hats as we ask: Who, Why, What, and Where.

Question of Who - 1.19-23

To get more information about John the Baptist’s beginnings and all the miraculous activity surrounding his family, you would need to go to the gospel of Luke.  We gather that John the Baptist’s ministry actually began around the time he was 29 or 30.  When God’s Word came to him to begin his ministry, we see in Mark 1.4 that he “appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” 

We know from Matthew 3 that there were huge crowds that came from all over to hear his message.  So, we’ll start with this section of John and deal with some of the questions. This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he *said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”

You will remember that the writer, John, uses the word testimony more than any other New Testament writer.  This is the Greek word from which we get martyr, meaning one who is a witness or who testifies. 

We also see the word Jews used in verse 19.  John seems to use that phrase to represent all religious leaders who were hostile to Jesus. In these verses, we find that there was a group of religious leaders from the Temple who were sent to gather information.  It appears from verse 24, that this group was actually sent from the Pharisees.

As we look at the first question, we might wonder if they were a bit dim-witted.  Yet, from John the Baptist’s response, he seemed to understand exactly what they were asking.  Evidently, they were wondering if John the Baptist was the Messiah.  He certainly didn’t fit their idea of what the Messiah might be like. John’s answer showed that he was certainly not the Christ, or the Messiah. In fact, the writer shows how intense John the Baptist’s response was: And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed. 

But that didn’t stop their questions.  John the Baptist’s message was quite unique and almost like that of an end times prophet.  Thinking back to the book of Malachi, they then asked if he were Elijah.  This made some sense if you remember from Mark’s gospel how John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist.  2 Kings 1 shows that Elijah was a hairy man with a leather girdle about his loins. John the Baptist’s response let them know that he was not the literal Elijah.  We read from Matthew 17, how Jesus explained to His disciples how John the Baptist fit the prophetic role of Elijah. We can’t really blame the religious leaders for this error, since John the Baptist’s ministry was much like Elijah’s.

To all of their questions as to his identity, John the Baptist kept answering with a brusque “no.”  Then they almost suggest that they were frustrated, because they needed an answer to give to those who had sent them.  Then we have the very humble and clear answer: “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”

He was not going to be led or driven to suggest that he was anyone of any importance.  He was truly a humble man, willing to be obedient to his unique calling of preparing the way for the Lord Jesus Christ.

How does this relate to us?  When people see our walk and hear our words, what questions come to their minds?  I pray that they don’t see us as people who are trying to be noticed.  I pray that they don’t see and hear us trying to make a name for ourselves.  I pray that they don’t perceive us as being important and special in our own estimation.  I want them to see Jesus. I want them to ask us to introduce them to Jesus.  

My friends, our role is much like John the Baptist’s.  It’s all about us pointing people to Jesus.

Question of Why - 1.24-28

We know they had been sent from the Pharisees. They then asked him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John answered them saying, “I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know. “It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

We see in this section that they weren’t going to just allow the matter to be finished.  Now they were going to question his authority to baptize.  If he wasn’t any of those important people they had named, why did he think he could baptize people?

As we look at John’s response, I find myself very impressed and humbled at the same time.  He didn’t waste his energy trying to defend his ministry.  In fact, he pointed out to them that it was just water in which he baptized people.  So what does he do next?  He again diverts their attention from himself and points them back to Jesus again.  I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know. As I reread this several times, I even remarked out loud, “Man, he is good!”  

Let’s look at baptism in this setting for just a little bit.  The Jews were familiar with the process of baptizing others who had converted to Judaism.  Yet, in this situation, John was baptizing Jews, not those who had converted to Judaism.  This would have puzzled and bothered the religious leaders because the Jews were already God’s chosen people.  Thus, they shouldn’t need to be baptized.  Why is this being done? 

Remember John’s baptism was one of repentance.  Evidently, John the Baptist’s message was convicting many Jews that their sin had placed them outside God’s kingdom.  They recognized they were no better off than their Gentile neighbors and friends.  This baptism was a public testimony of the fact that they had repented of their sins and were awaiting the coming of the Christ.

Then John the Baptist repeats the fact that he is less than the One who comes after me.  John even states that he was not even worthy to perform the most servant-like, humble job of untying His sandal.  This must have been a statement that could have made the religious leaders feel somewhat silly.  They were making it out as if John was someone important and was doing something quite amazing, even though they didn’t like it.  He then puts his person and purpose all into perspective by those statements.  

Again, we are reminded that we don’t have to defend ourselves or our actions if it is in step with what God calls of us.  When people try to bring attention to us, we need to make sure we direct their eyes to Jesus.  Even if they don’t know that He is right there among them.

Question of What - 1.29-34

The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! “This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ “I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.” John testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. “I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ “I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”

As we look at these verses, it is as if John is answering an unspoken question; “Who is this new fellow coming to John?”  What exactly is this all about? Remember that John knew exactly what his assignment was. The stage has been set.  Preparations have been made with all of his preaching.  As soon as Jesus was seen coming, John made this incredible announcement:  “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”  Interestingly, John is the only one to use this title, the Lamb of God, for Jesus.  

The Jewish people fully understood the idea of a sacrificial lamb with its purpose of being offered as a sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin.  This had been prescribed throughout the Old Testament.  However, this title, the Lamb of God, was a prophetic glimpse into the ultimate sacrifice which Jesus would make on the cross.  You will also notice that John used the word sin, which is in the singular.  Sin is worldwide.  What Jesus did on the cross was enough for all humanity, regardless of the number of sins.  However, it is effective only for those who believe in Jesus Christ for salvation.

John the Baptist once again reminds the people that Jesus is above him.  Interestingly, even though he and Jesus were cousins, John hadn’t recognized Jesus as the Messiah until God revealed it to Him at this baptism.  It was as if God had arranged it so that John the Baptist would fully understand when he saw the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. How do we know that?  Because it was written in Matthew 16.17: He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.

Remember John’s comments to the religious leaders earlier about baptizing in water?  Now He elaborates and shows how great Jesus is by explaining that this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.

What can we take from this?  Probably much more than I’m going to suggest.  However, I am again reminded that it’s all about presenting Jesus.  It’s about showing why Jesus came.  It was not to give us what we want.   He did not come to make us popular or successful or strong or healthy or rich.  He came to set us free.  He came to offer Himself as a sacrifice so as to take away our sin.  That is what must be shared as we live out our daily walk and share verbally with others.

Question of Where - 1.35-37

 Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

Now we are introduced to two of the disciples of John the Baptist.  From other Gospel accounts, we know them to be Andrew and John, the writer of this Gospel.  We can almost imagine them walking and visiting about ministry or what they should eat or even the weather.  Then Jesus is walking along the way.  John the Baptist is looking at Jesus which would probably cause Andrew and John to look at Him, as well.  Then, John says exactly what he had said to the crowd the day before: Behold, the Lamb of God!  Instead of saying, “So what?” they followed Jesus.  

You’ve got to admire John the Baptist for willingly, and without any hesitation, turned over two of his disciples to follow Jesus.  He didn’t hang on to them.  He didn’t show any frustration that they were following someone other than him. He fully knew his role in God’s plan for his life.  More than likely, this was somewhat temporary, as we see from Matthew 4.18-22 when they later became Jesus’ full-time disciples.  Regardless, knowing what they knew, the Christ, the Lamb of God was right there, what else could they do but follow? Where else should they be?

It’s never about what we think we want.  It’s always to be about what God wants.  We may want to hang on to that which we know.  Yet, if God is calling us to something else, we need to follow Him. We need to be where God leads us. The world is waiting and watching to see if we really mean business about being a follower of Jesus Christ.

Reflections

From this point forward, the writer, John, keeps the focus totally on Jesus Christ.  

So what can we take from this passage today?  Obviously, our words and our walk should cause people to have questions about Jesus.

Let’s look at some of the questions and answers.

Who is it all about? Rather than point to ourselves, we must point people to Jesus.

Why do we do what we do?  Rather than pridefully defending ourselves, we must patiently direct people to Jesus. We do this so others can be confronted with the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

What is the reason Jesus really came?  Rather than present a slick, successful Jesus, we must present our Savior, as the Bible portrays Him, Who is Jesus. He came to provide salvation for all who would believe.

Where should we and others be in our lives?  Rather than being persistent in latching onto other people or ideas, we must purposefully let people go so they can follow Jesus, as He has called them. Rather than staying where we are because it’s comfortable, be willing to go wherever God is leading.