Lam of God

John 1:19 ESV

And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

The Apostle underscores here his earlier contention that John the Baptist came to serve as a witness. Yes, he was preparing people spiritually for the Messiah’s arrival, but he was primarily here to point people to Christ. He was garnering lots of attention because he was preaching in a prophetic way, a Spirit-filled way that God was using to reach people’s hearts. There was a revival going on and people were repenting and turning from their sin, all in a desire to be ready when the Lord arrived.

The religious elite, the members of the Sanhedrin, the priestly class, the scribes and Pharisees were hearing these reports concerning a man out in a wilderness area who was creating a stir and engaged in a ministry that included baptismal cleansing. These kinds of religious movements demanded their attention.

The question posed is one of theological identity. As John’s answer reveals, they didn’t mean, who are you in terms of your tribal connections, your family line, but are you something more?