John 1:19-28
19And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent from Jerusalem priests and Levites, so that they should question him, “You, who are you?” 20And he confessed and did not deny, and confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21And they questioned him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” (see Mal 4: 5,6) And he says, “I am not.”—“ Are you the Prophet?” (see Deut 18: 15-18) And he answered, “No.” 22So they said to him, “Who are you, so that we shall give an answer to the ones sending us? What do you say concerning yourself?” 23He said, “I ‘a voice shouting in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of Lord,”’ just as Isaiah the prophet said.” (Isaiah 40:3)
24And the ones having been sent were from the Pharisees. 25And they questioned him and said to him, “Why then do you baptize (immerse), if you are not the Christ nor Elijah nor the Prophet?” 26John answered them saying, “I baptize in water, but He has stood in the midst of whom do not know. 27He is the One coming after me, who has come to be before me, of whom I am not worthy that I untie the strap of His sandal.” 28These things took place in Bethany, beyond the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.
Good Day Child of God: "Father? Your Will Be Done." This is an interesting bit of Scripture that needs background from the Old Testament, before there can be a full understanding of the conversation above, and verses that will be coming.
John the Baptist is the representation of Elijah; he just doesn't know it. Jesus makes this clear later when teaching the Apostles. When John the Baptist says "He is One coming after me..." John is speaking of two things. Jesus and John the Baptist were cousins. Jesus' Mother, Mary, and her sister Elizabeth, were both with child at the same time, but John the Baptist was born about six months or so before Jesus. Secondly, John started his ministry first not realizing who Jesus was, but later on it was made obvious to him by Jesus himself, that Jesus truly was the Messiah. The answers are true to the point of the knowledge John has the information, and in fact he is more on point than he realizes. Jesus will explain that later as well.
Today's easy lesson: What we have here is an envoy from the High Priest, (similar to the Pope), trying to find out what John the Baptist is up to out there in the wilderness, baptizing, teaching a different view of God than the relatively new religion, Judaism, and why he is getting so many people to follow him, when he is not preaching anywhere near towns and villages.
Pharisees are Jewish Lawyers, extensively trained in the Law, so they know how to ask questions, and read between the lines. At this point they are getting gibberish as far as they are concerned. You have to know the Holy Spirit is speaking through John; he is much to simple a man to argue against their expertise.
What is the message? When you are a Child of God, when it comes to witnessing, being put to the test of questions similar to John the Baptist above, you are shown by example above, and taught elsewhere in Scripture that not to even think about it. Allow the Holy Spirit to deal with your Life, and it will all work out for the best. You see above, John did not even come close to telling the Pharisees what Jesus will do to Judaism, maybe he does not know, but in fact all he is doing is keeping those that believe they are in control out of the loop. God knows what is coming, what His Plan is, and how it will be executed. That is true for your Life too. It's a matter of you deciding if you can handle everything, or if you would like your Loving Father to do it for you. It is not complicated. Religion makes it complicated, not God. Have a Grace Day!
Brother Glenn
Complete N.T.: http://gracehouseministry.blogspot.com/
19And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent from Jerusalem priests and Levites, so that they should question him, “You, who are you?” 20And he confessed and did not deny, and confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21And they questioned him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” (see Mal 4: 5,6) And he says, “I am not.”—“ Are you the Prophet?” (see Deut 18: 15-18) And he answered, “No.” 22So they said to him, “Who are you, so that we shall give an answer to the ones sending us? What do you say concerning yourself?” 23He said, “I ‘a voice shouting in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of Lord,”’ just as Isaiah the prophet said.” (Isaiah 40:3)
24And the ones having been sent were from the Pharisees. 25And they questioned him and said to him, “Why then do you baptize (immerse), if you are not the Christ nor Elijah nor the Prophet?” 26John answered them saying, “I baptize in water, but He has stood in the midst of whom do not know. 27He is the One coming after me, who has come to be before me, of whom I am not worthy that I untie the strap of His sandal.” 28These things took place in Bethany, beyond the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.
Good Day Child of God: "Father? Your Will Be Done." This is an interesting bit of Scripture that needs background from the Old Testament, before there can be a full understanding of the conversation above, and verses that will be coming.
John the Baptist is the representation of Elijah; he just doesn't know it. Jesus makes this clear later when teaching the Apostles. When John the Baptist says "He is One coming after me..." John is speaking of two things. Jesus and John the Baptist were cousins. Jesus' Mother, Mary, and her sister Elizabeth, were both with child at the same time, but John the Baptist was born about six months or so before Jesus. Secondly, John started his ministry first not realizing who Jesus was, but later on it was made obvious to him by Jesus himself, that Jesus truly was the Messiah. The answers are true to the point of the knowledge John has the information, and in fact he is more on point than he realizes. Jesus will explain that later as well.
Today's easy lesson: What we have here is an envoy from the High Priest, (similar to the Pope), trying to find out what John the Baptist is up to out there in the wilderness, baptizing, teaching a different view of God than the relatively new religion, Judaism, and why he is getting so many people to follow him, when he is not preaching anywhere near towns and villages.
Pharisees are Jewish Lawyers, extensively trained in the Law, so they know how to ask questions, and read between the lines. At this point they are getting gibberish as far as they are concerned. You have to know the Holy Spirit is speaking through John; he is much to simple a man to argue against their expertise.
What is the message? When you are a Child of God, when it comes to witnessing, being put to the test of questions similar to John the Baptist above, you are shown by example above, and taught elsewhere in Scripture that not to even think about it. Allow the Holy Spirit to deal with your Life, and it will all work out for the best. You see above, John did not even come close to telling the Pharisees what Jesus will do to Judaism, maybe he does not know, but in fact all he is doing is keeping those that believe they are in control out of the loop. God knows what is coming, what His Plan is, and how it will be executed. That is true for your Life too. It's a matter of you deciding if you can handle everything, or if you would like your Loving Father to do it for you. It is not complicated. Religion makes it complicated, not God. Have a Grace Day!
Brother Glenn
Complete N.T.: http://gracehouseministry.blogspot.com/
