(1) Overview
(NET) John the Baptist’s testimony seems to take place over 3 days: day 1, John’s testimony about his own role is largely negative (1:19–28); day 2, John gives positive testimony about who Jesus is (1:29–34); day 3, John sends his own disciples to follow Jesus (1:35–40).
(2) What did baptism mean to the Jewish leaders? Why did John's baptism catch their attention?
(NET) In baptizing, John the Baptist was performing an eschatological [End time event] action. It also seems to have been part of his proclamation (John 1:23, 26–27). Crowds were beginning to follow him.
(3)
Explanation for terms: (you can skip this part if you've already known the terms)
Christ/Messiah/the anointed one(NET) ...In the intertestamental period it developed further into a technical term referring to the hoped-for anointed one [the King of the Kingdom of God], that is, a specific individual. In the NT the development starts there (technical-specific), is so used in the gospels, and then develops in Paul to mean virtually Jesus’ last name.
Elijah (NET) 2 Kgs 2:11 [Elijah went up to heaven in a windstorm]...In Mal 4:5 it is said that Elijah would be the precursor of Messiah.
(NET) How does one reconcile John the Baptist’s denial here (“I am not”) with Jesus’ statements in Matt 11:14 (see also Mark 9:13 and Matt 17:12) that John the Baptist was Elijah? ... “We have to ask by whom the identification is made, and by whom refused. The synoptic gospels represent Jesus as identifying, or comparing, the Baptist with Elijah, while John represents the Baptist as rejecting the identification when it is offered him by his interviewers. Now these two, so far from being incompatible, are psychologically complementary. The Baptist humbly rejects the exalted title, but Jesus, on the contrary, bestows it on him. Why should not the two both be correct?”
The Prophet (NET) The Prophet is a reference to the “prophet like Moses” of Deut 18:15, by this time an eschatological figure in popular belief. Acts 3:22 identifies Jesus as this prophet.
The Prophet (NET) The Prophet is a reference to the “prophet like Moses” of Deut 18:15, by this time an eschatological figure in popular belief. Acts 3:22 identifies Jesus as this prophet.
(4) The role of John's baptism
The Jewish leaders asked John "who are you?" because he baptized people v.19-25, but John said his baptism is for them to recognize Who Jesus is v.26, 31. He described Jesus as,
a. "[whom} I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandal," v.27-
(NET) The humility of John is evident in the statement I am not worthy. This was considered one of the least worthy tasks of a slave, and John did not consider himself worthy to do even that for the one to come, despite the fact he himself was a prophet.
(b) "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world," v.29, 36-When he said that in v.36, John's 2 disciples switched from following him to following Jesus.
(NET) John the Baptist, who has been so reluctant to elaborate his own role, now more than willingly gives his testimony about Jesus. For the author, the emphasis is totally on John the Baptist as a witness to Jesus. No attention is given to the Baptist’s call to national repentance and very little to his baptizing. Everything is focused on what he has to say about Jesus: so that he could be revealed to Israel.
Reflection: Do you mind if you are John? The spotlight is not on you, but on Jesus. John was older than Jesus v.30, but he was only the pioneer who set the stages for Jesus v.23. Are you willing to take the 2nd in command in the "control panel" of your heart? Are you willing to be behind the scene and support other brothers and sisters in the church? Are you willing to not being recognized for credit that you deserved?
(NET) Gen 22:8 [22:8 “God will provide for himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son,” Abraham replied.] is an important passage in the background of the title Lamb of God as applied to Jesus. In Jewish thought this was held to be a supremely important sacrifice... “For the Palestinian Jew, all lamb sacrifice, and especially the Passover lamb ...was a memorial of the [lamb in Abraham's passage] with its effects of deliverance, forgiveness of sin and messianic salvation”
(c) "the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit." v.33,
First the Spirit descending like a dove and remained on him.
(NET) [remain]=Here the use of the word implies that Jesus permanently possesses the Holy Spirit, and because he does, he will dispense the Holy Spirit to others in baptism.
(d) "the Chosen One of God." v.34.
Reflection: the Jewish leader focus on if John is one of the End time character prophesized in the OT. However, when John introduced Jesus he focused on the Jesus as the sacrificial Lamb who took our sins, and His role in dispensing of the Holy Spirit in our new birth. In other words, there is a more urgent need to take cares of our sins and have our new births. Are we concern about other people's sin being taken away? Are you concern if your family member's salvation?
Audrey
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