7030 - John’s Baptism - John 1:24-28

Today we complete our discussion about the visit of the delegation from the Jews to check up on John the Baptist.

Let’s focus upon John 1, verses 24 through 28. They say:

“Now some Pharisees who had been sent questioned Jesus, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan where John was baptizing.”

These Jewish people were persistent in trying to get John the Baptist to say something or to admit to something which would invalidate or destroy his ministry.

John clearly was empowered and guided by the Lord as he boldly answered their questions. His purpose was to prepare the people of earth to understand about the coming Messiah.

John the Baptist’s message was outside of the established religious order of that day. The people had ceased to honor and obey God. They had turned their backs on Him.

As the delegation made its final attempt to discredit John the Baptist, he elevated the sphere of conversation to the eternal plan of God’s redemption of mankind by his final answer to them. I baptize with water. The Matthew (3:11) parallel adds the word “for repentance,” John sought to bring the people to see the truth of Malachi’s passage (4:1). He prophesied: “…the day is coming … [when] all the arrogant and evildoers will be stubble, and that day … will set them on fire, says the Lord Almighty … But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings…”

As Jesus later ministered to the people, he emphasized that salvation was a personal relationship with God. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness; blessed are the pure in heart, they will see and relate to God. Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees and those who teach the law, you will certainly not enter heaven. Be careful that your acts of righteousness are not performed to be seen and praised by men, but are for the purpose of pleasing God. Do not spend all your time and energy to get better clothing or to acquire bigger and finer houses. God knows you need food, clothes and shelter and He has promised to care for you. Understand that God’s kingdom is about loving people, and encouraging and helping one another. His kingdom is about righteousness, purity, and holiness. Let your good deeds bring praise and honor to your Father in heaven. These attitudes and truths were important to God.


A close study of the word baptize, or ‘baptizo’ in the Greek, will show that John the Baptist’s baptism was literally a ‘dipping.’ This was an act performed by John the Baptist which symbolized that the one who yielded to be baptized was confessing their sin and asking for acceptance of their repentance so they would receive remission of their sins. By this act they were admitting their sin, and their unfitness to be a member of the Messiah’s coming Kingdom. Thus, they testified they were changing direction for their life.

The baptism encouraged by Christ was to be experienced by those who placed their faith in Jesus Christ and were called believers. It was a testimony of their being identified with Christ, in death – dying to the old sinful self; then burial as a dead person – that’s being submerged under the surface of the water; then resurrection to a new life as they emerged from the depth of the baptismal waters. Thus, this person was giving testimony to being closely bound to and becoming one with the Lord Jesus Christ for eternity.

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day rejected God’s purpose for them, because they refused to acknowledge their sin or to be baptized by John (Lk. 7:30).