7027 - Not the Christ - John 1:19-20

Our study in the book of John has progressed to John 1, verses 19 and 20. These verses give us the brief testimony of John the Baptist to the delegation from the Jewish leaders about himself. First, let me read them:

“Now this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Christ.”

This scene unfolded someplace in the wilderness along the Jordan valley, where John had been carrying on his ministry of preparing the hearts of the people for the coming Messiah. This messenger was John the Baptist. He went up and down the Jordan valley, preaching that people should be baptized as a witness that they had turned from their sins, and in repentance had turned to God for forgiveness.

He was fulfilling the commission God had destined upon him from birth. Several prophets had told about the messenger who would precede the Messiah/Christ, preaching and preparing the people for the Lord’s appearance on earth.

John did not give the verbal picture of John the Baptist as do the synoptic gospels. There is no mention that his clothing was made of camel’s hair, or that he wore a leather belt about his loins. In a way, he was an impressive figure to the people. Other Scriptures also tell us that his food was largely composed of locusts and wild honey. Many recognize him as one of the most remarkable characters presented in the pages of Scripture.

We have mentioned previously that John the Baptist was chosen by God even before his conception to be His instrument in fulfillment of several prophesies found in the Old Testament. Isaiah and Malachi are two of these.

Luke (1:5-18) gives the record of an angel who visited Zechariah, a priest in the Temple, while on duty, and told him that Elizabeth, his wife, would bear a son and he was to be named John. He was also told that this son would be great in the sight of the Lord; and that he would be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. And he was told even before this son’s conception that he would turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and turn the disobedient to wisdom and righteousness, this for the purpose of making ready a people prepared for the Lord. Obviously, John the Baptist was a special messenger from the Lord to prepare people for the coming of God’s Son, the Messiah.

The religious leaders were cautious and reluctant to accept the message John the Baptist was preaching, so they sent a delegation of priests and Levites to check him out.

The priests were men, from the bloodline of Aaron who were chosen to serve in performing the holy duties in the temple. They were the people who stood between the people and God. The Levites were men from the tribe of Levi who were assigned to serve as the helpers and assistants of the priests.

The Sanhedrin was the body of people who, to a great extent, had the direction and reign of the religious and political affairs of the people of Jerusalem and surrounding areas. They also served as the Jewish court of justice.

Most likely this delegation which was sent to check out John the Baptist was under the authority of the Sanhedrin. Those kinds of affairs were under their concern.

They were filled with curiosity – who are you? What is your purpose for preaching? Give it to us straight!

John the Baptist was very straightforward. He confessed freely, “I am not the Christ.”

Some see in this direct answer an implication that these priests and Levites must have approached John in a pushy, aggressive manner. They could have conveyed an attitude that John B. was an interloper. He was outside of the religious system of that day. He was not a recognized figure in the Sanhedrin, or even in the temple parishioners.

But John the Baptist boldly stood strong. The threatening frowns or tones did not shake him. May like courage be found in every messenger sent from God – and that would include every child of God.

We look more closely into this delegation in our next study.