John 1:19-34 – John The Baptist Confirms Jesus’ Identity – Answers

19This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22Then 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?” 23He said, “I am A VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”

24Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25They asked him, and said to him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26John answered them saying, “I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know. 27“It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

29The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30“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.’ 31“I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.” 32John testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. 33“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.’ 34“I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”

Interesting Words
Christ

Christos – The Anointed One, Christ (Greek), Messiah (Hebrew). 1Sam 2:35; Ps 2:2; Isa 11:1, 2, 3; Jer 23:5; Gen 22:18; Matt 1:1; Acts 2:36;

the Prophet

prophétés – a prophet, poet; a person gifted at expositing divine truth, an interpreter or forth-teller of the divine will, someone inspired by God to foretell the Word of God. However, in this context, with the definite article, it refers to a well known prophecy by Moses in Deut 18:15; Also referenced in… John 7:40.

the Lamb

amnos –  a lamb (as a type of innocence, with sacrificial connotation), sacrificial lamb (used for sacrifice); a young sheep without blemish (especially a one-year old lamb)… Lev 5:6; Isa 53:7, 8; 1Peter 1:19; John 1:36;

testimony / testified

marturia (noun) – witness, evidence, testimony, in a legal sense, before a judge.
martureó (verb) – bear witness, give evidence, testify… John 1:7-8; 1John 1:3, 7;

Cross References

• Lev 17:11;
• Isa 40:3;
• Matt 11:2-4, 5-6;
• Isa 8:13-14;

Discussion Questions
Print (ctrl-p) or copy the following to a word processor to enter your answers, then meet with some friends to discuss. You can also compare your ansers to mine for a virtual discussion… my answers… to return… back

  1. Who were the people sent to John the Baptist?   What did they want?
    • Who they were…
      • Jewish Priests and Levites – John 1:19
      • Pharisees – John 1:24
      • Some who knew the Old Testament and some who did not.
    • What did they want…
      • Their questions revolved around who John the Baptist was.
      • They were actually trying to ascertain if he was the Messiah.
      • I am not sure if they were really interested in finding Him given, they had such a misconception of what His purpose was.  His purpose was to come as a sacrifice for the sins of the world.   They were looking for a king to overcome Rome.
  2. What was John the Baptist’s answer to them?  
    • John said plainly that he was not the Christ.
    • He said he was not the Prophet, spoken of by Moses in Deut 18:15.
    • He said he was not Elijah, but in fact in later comments from Jesus, he probably was Elijah but did not claim that title.
  3. What did he say about himself with reference to OT prophecy?
    • He claimed that he was not spoken of at all by the Old Testament prophets.
    • He was a simple voice in the wilderness calling out for people to repent and turn to God. 
    • He was too humble to accept the fact that he was the center of God’s plan for the entire world, ushering in the Messiah for the benefit of all humanity.
  4. In John’s response to the Pharisees (v. 24-28)… he introduces new concepts to them.   What are these new concepts?
    • They were introduced to humility.
    • That the world does not revolve around them.
    • They were introduced to true spiritual renewal.  “Why are you baptizing if you are not the Christ?” as if there is no reason for true repentance unless you have some ulterior motive.
    • They were introduced pure religion to them, where people are committed to advancing God’s Kingdom without any strings attached.
    • They introduced the concept that there was someone out there that they did not know that may be of higher rank that they are!
  5. What do John’s statements tell you about Jesus?
    • He came as the Lamb of God who will take away the sin of the world.
    • Jesus was a higher rank that he was.
    • Jesus existed before John; actually, He existed before the world was created, from everlasting.
    • John actually did not recognize Jesus, but God gave John a sign that He was the Messiah.
    • John was told that this One would baptize (immerse, overwhelm) people with the Holy Spirit, giving them a brand-new life…  Ezek 11:19
    • Based on all these factors, John knew that this Jesus was the Son of God.
  6. What was the Pharisees’ response to John the Baptist?
    • Well, there is no positive response shown in this passage.
    • There is however, a number of negative responses given by the Pharisees toward Jesus later in His ministry… Matt 5:20, 23:13, 27;
    • We do know that there were some Pharisees that responded favorably to the gospel later in Jesus’ ministry.,,   Nicodemus – John 3:1-2 and Joseph of Arimathea – John 19:38; Matt 27:57-28;
  7. What does the final paragraph (v.29-34) tell you about character of John the Baptist?
    • He was a true prophet declaring that Jesus was the Lamb of God.
    • He had an intimate relationship with God and received private messages from God, John 1:30, 33.
    • John was humble, knowing that Jesus was a higher rank that he was.
    • He was committed to the ministry that God called him to, John 1:31.
    • John did not shirk away from the responsibility of telling others of what he saw and witnessed.
    • He was honest and deductive, logically concluding that Jesus was the Son of God, John 1:34